Bowing out for this year

I chose not to write yesterday. I also chose to not write again today.

I am not happy cramming writing like this. It feels like work.

I learned that it takes a huge amount of preparation to write a story in a month at this kind of pace. Character development. Key scenes. I was not prepared enough and had not developed my free writing skill to the extent needed to keep going. I wasn’t happy writing meaningless text and dialogue that I wasn’t sure would for a logical plot.

I take 18 weeks to train for a marathon when I commit. I wouldn’t ever show up on the day of a marathon without putting in that training. I think that’s what I did with this writing marathon and it hurt.

I wasn’t happy working long days then hiding out in a room by myself to struggle with writing. I wasn’t happy giving up running and spending time with my wife to write.

I’ve decided I need to re-evaluate how writing fits into my life right now. I get great satisfaction when I read my writing most of the time. I have received plenty of compliments on my writing style.

I also know that I truly enjoy writing non-fictional pieces, like my opinions, my experiences and my lessons from other people. I want to find a way to writing these types of pieces more frequently.

For now, I will not push to finish NaNoWriMo. It was a hard decision to make. I set this goal, and for now I will not achieve it.

However, I am proud that I wrote 8,000 words in six days. I will consider trying another year, and be extremely proud that my writing has progressed so dramatically this year. I am also proud of my courage to give it a shot.

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Day 4 -- 6,723 Words Total - ON TRACK

If I hadn’t said it already, this is an extremely difficult goal. I am proud to say that I am on track after four days. It has NOT been easy, especially when dealing with the guilt of leaving my wife and mother-in-law sitting without me in the living room so I could write.

I’ve done ten marathons in the last 6 years. This feels harder than a marathon psychologically. The difference is that I train for my marathons usually in 18-week increments leading up to the race. Not in the case of this writing marathon.

I am getting the words down. I can’t say everything flows together. In fact, I am skipping around from scene idea to scene idea. I haven’t figured out yet if and how what I have written will comprise a cohesive plot. I am sticking to my outline, but my outline was fairly loose.

I found an approach that works for me. I picked a particular scene that I knew I wanted to write and took a blank screen. I gave myself 60 mintes to free write on that scene. The rule is “DON’T DELETE OR EDIT”. I knocked out 1,000 words in 54 minutes. Some of it is good quality writing, most of it – well, who knows…

I’m feeling the excitement of the NaNoWriMo journey. Keep writing!

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Three days = 4,505 words - Got to keep focus and maximize output

Wow, this is really challenging.

I am slightly behind schedule. However, I have decent reasons. #1: My mother-in-law came in Thursday night, and #2: It was my wife’s birthday yesterday. I simply cannot ditch my family to write whenever I feel like it. I had to spend time with them today and yesterday.

All and all, I am in decent shape.

The biggest challenge about NaNoWriMo so far is maximizing output in the time I have available. I thought I’d be able to do 1,500-1,800 words an hour. I’m not anywhere near that.

It makes me realize that I have not done nearly enough planning on characters, setting and plot. I just need to keep writing – despite any holes or inconsistencies.

I will make up the 500 words I am short as well as another minimum 1,667 tomorrow.

We gain an hour tonight. Yes!

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Day 1 Complete - 1,670 words

I completed what I hope will be my hardest day of this project. I spent at least 3 plus hours working on my writing today—about 3 times longer than I hoped I would for this many words.

I need to stop editing. I just need to write. Stop worrying about the quality of dialogue and sequence of ideas. Just keep writing. I do not have time to deal with the internal critic.

I feel really proud that I have begun, particularly since I had a very busy day at work today.

Day 1 is complete. I am happy – for now.

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

OK, it's just about "GO" time!!!

I just got off of a conference call with China for a major project that I need to deliver in the next few weeks (among numerous other career commitments), my wife is pregnant, I just completed my third marathon of 2007, my mother-in-law is coming this weekend… what other excuses can I think of to avoid this task?

None! Nor do I want to… I’ve made a writing commitment. It’S NA NO WRI MO time!

We are exactly 2 hours and 15 minutes from National Novel Writing Month. I have no idea how I got myself into this little predictament. Wait, yes, I do, I am wildly ambitious, creative and dedicated to constant challenges and adventures which I believe will fulfill me as a human being. Once I set a goal, I deliver. And this one I set for myself, no matter how difficult I KNOW it will be.

I know I can I do it. I’ve got the story outline, the skill and the ambition to hammer out a story in 30 days. It will not be perfect or remotely pretty. It will hurt, like all ten of my marathons have at the end (although this one may hurt more in the beginning than the end), but I will succeed.

We all have lots of things going on in life. This is important. I can make the time. One solid, uninterrupted hour of robust productivity will get me to the finish line on November 30. I can do this. I will need to adjust constantly, but I have the planning experience to make it happen. It’s GO time!

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

November is rapidly approaching - It's getting close to "GO" time!

November is rapidly approaching, which means I will begin writing. A lot.

I have my outline nearly complete. I have a decent story line.

I think I have a pacing plan figured out. I think I can average 30 meaningful, thoughtful words per minute when I free write. This would include time for pauses and “on the fly” quick edits.

If I can do this, then hard hour = 1,800 words. If I put in a single hard, dedicated hour per day every single day, I would write 54,000 words in a month. This plan leaves margin for error.

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Holy crap. I am signed up. No turning back now...

Dear Writing Self:

In case you weren’t paying attention, this is to inform you that I am officially signed up for NaNoWriMo.

That’s why you’re feeling that sudden surge of anxiety.

50,000 words in a month. No editing. Just 1,667 words per day output for 30 days. Eegads.

I haven’t written that much toward a novel in a year. I am running the Chicago Marathon this Sunday. Four weeks until a entirely different kind of marathon begins.

Yours Truly,
The Former Non-Writer

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

OK, it's getting to be crunch time

I need to commit to this goal quickly. I need to have an outline written up by month’s end.

I am currently in the middle of an assignment in China, from which I am temporarily on break. I have a marathon this weekend in Chicago.

It’s going to be a challenge, but I need to give this a shot in the month of November.

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Regaining focus on writing

So I have written quite a great deal about how I wanted to make a big step forward with writing in 2007. I have to admit my focus on writing has plummeted in the last two months or so.

I have been spending some much energy and planning efforts on running and career that I have not locked myself in a room to start planning for NaNoWriMo as yet.

I think it is also harder in the summertime. Fact is that I am not a professional writer. I have a profession that consumes me. And I have a passion in running that costs me anywhere from 6 to 12 hours per week. And in the summertime, I have parties to attend and lots of daylight (and lots of lots of running).

This forthcoming week I will run 84 miles in seven days. That's probably about 11 hours of running - then add on change time, stretching, driving to and from runs, recovering and you're looking at 15-16 hours in the next week.

I committed to try NaNoWriMo in November. To do this, I need to have a clear outline constructed before November 1st comes. It's not that far away. I will carve out some time in the next month to start piecing together an outline. I will use tips and tactics learned in my recent writing course.

I hope to write about progress toward the early beginnings of an outline on here by end of August.

No recent contest entries, but still writing away

So there were two “Write To Win” contests that I had planned on entering so far this year, and I am zero for two. It simply boils down to my competing priorities in life. I am beginning to realize that I am about stretched to my limits in life with career and related travel, running, writing, family and social/relaxation time.

The first contest deadline was right after the Boston Marathon. It probably was not a brilliant idea to try to come up with something right before this major life event. I failed to have a complete story worthwhile of submitting.

The second contest deadline was just this past week. Again, I have been so ridiculously busy with work, running and my on-line writing class, I was not able to complete a decent, finished piece of work.

On the positive side, I am currently working on lesson 9 of 12 of the class “Write Fiction Like a Pro” and have a decent story idea that I am working on. The class teaches story structure and has been a real help so far.

I think this class will be a real benefit when I make my preliminary outline for NaNoWriMo in November.

I still have two writing contests to submit to if I plan to make my 2007 goal. Then again, I did not plan on doing NaNoWriMo, and I am certain that 50,000 words in one month has to be worth at least two contests.

Not to mention, on the running front, I am now chasing a sub 3-hour marathon. I thought I would mention that since this massive ambition does have a direct impact on available writing time.

See more progress on: write a book and have it published

My next online workshop

It's been a month since I posted last. The good news is that I just began my second online writing workshop. I will be using this workshop to enter a short story contest for Writer's Digest. Below is my introductory post to the discussion board for our first lesson.

----
I am a 31-year-old married man who works for a large Global consumer products company in the Chicago area. My two biggest passions are running marathons and trying to tap into my writing soul.

My major writing goal for this year is to complete NaNoWriMo in November, a feat that scares me far more than running 26.2 miles (see www.nanowrimo.org for details).

My story idea is for a contest submission that is due to Writer’s Journal by June 20. The main rule of the contest is that the short story must begin with the words "They could see..." Here is a single-sentence description:

A 12-year-old boy and his younger sister are stranded in a roadside car wreck during a Minnesota snowstorm with their father who has suffered a stroke.

Balancing many goals in life can be difficult

I decided that I didn’t leave enough time to write a quality story for the Writer’s Journal contest. I am falling short with this mini-milestone to submit a story to the Write To Win contest that is due to tomorrow. I have written 1,083 words of a story that is not well put together and has a ton of work left to do. My wife read it and the look on her face told me that. I suppose trying to do this the same week I ran the Boston Marathon has been a tough task.

I will make a more focused commitment for the next deadline—June 20, 2007 for “They could see…”

In the meantime, I am pasting the first scene from my incomplete story to display the valiant effort put forth.

He reached for…

…the gold-plated letter opener out of a birch memory box that rested atop the credenza. The den inside the old Colonial was uncomfortably cool even for July. Wade pawed his antique mail sword carefully with veins bulging from his frail hands.
“I don’t know what I’m doing here,” whispered Allison as she clenched Greg’s hand. “I can’t believe I agreed to this.”
Allison showed her husband a hopeless frown. She wished he would yank her out of her chair so they could dash out of the old man’s house together. Instead, she found him gazing at the crown molding and the vintage canvas collection that adorned Wade’s study.
“We can get through this, Ally. Your mother asked for this meeting to take place. The least we can do is respect her wishes,” whispered Greg.
“Respect her…?” Ally’s hand flew out of Greg’s grasp in a blaze. She tightened her lips, while she lunged her head straight ahead. Her sarcastic response was interrupted by a familiar voice that crooned from behind her.
“Yeah, we’re at Wade’s now,” barked Danielle into her cell phone. “Once we sign the papers, I’ll meet you at Cedar Woods. Tee time is set for 10:00.” It was a classic portrait of Danielle, who again was blissfully defiant of the destructive gravity that women in their family had battled for years.
Though Allison appeared steady, her eyes seeped out the occasional tear. She was unable look at her mother’s long-time attorney, her husband and especially not Danielle. She diverted her stare into the tapestry of wood knots on Wade’s executive desk in front of them, which looked like a universe of frozen embryonic creatures to her.
Wade gave Danielle a polite smile, which prompted her to end her phone conversation. He then held out his weathered hands like an ordained prophet as he greeted the three mourners, stirring up a strange energy inside of his plush Connecticut estate. Danielle stood distant from the married couple, ruffling creases out of her khaki slacks.
“As you may know, we don’t typically read the deceased’s last will and testament in person like this, but we know your mother was far from typical. Madeline designated me as her executor and asked that I assemble us together,” explained Wade.
Madeline’s longtime advisor drove his letter opener into a massive manila envelope with geriatric force. Danielle balanced her Starbucks cup and swayed breezily from side-to-side. Wade appeared distracted by her pendulum swing.
“Danielle, please, won’t you sit down?” Wade paused his shredding of the large packet and motioned one of his puffy, decrepit hands toward a leather-wrapped chair beside Allison. Danielle sneered as she slid her large bottom onto the armrest of the large recliner opposite her older sister.

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Struggling

I’m struggling to gain confidence in the direction of this short story that I started for the April 20th deadline. It’s April 12th and I’ll be busy running the Boston Marathon this coming Monday. I don’t have a lot of time.

I read the last issue’s winning story, which started with “The box was small, but…” The winning author immediately took that phrase into action. That’s my issue. I don’t think I have enough action so far.

I didn’t write a lick last night. I have tonight and Friday night. Sat and Sun nites are shot. Probably won’t write on Monday, since we’ll be in Boston. I have the plane rides in both directions. Then Tue, Wed and Thursday.

I was hoping to have more confidence and be in a better position with this project. Onward!

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

My next short story is under development - Apr 20th

Work travel has been a bit crazy but I am back writing again. Never mind the fact that I am running the Boston Marathon in, um, six days! However, the Write To Win contest deadline is APRIL 20TH. That is 10 days away, basically.

I have begun digging into the minds of 32 year-old Wade Fendingham, his older sister, Danielle, and 27 year-old Allison Stark. I’ve got an idea, and a mere 1500 words to work with.

“He reached for… the gold-plated letter opener…” – Write To Win starter line, with my object…

It is the mid-1980’s and Allison is off on her first ever mission with the International Rescue Committee, serving out goodwill to the starving, repressed people in Sudan. The Darfur Conflict is several years off, but the civil war is well under way. Allison is living out a lifetime dream, working in a far-off land, connecting with people and driving positive change.

Before her journey, she befriends Danielle in Manhattan, with whom she shares a yoga class. Shortly thereafter, Danielle introduces Allison to her socially awkward younger brother, Wade, who happens to be a commercially successful author.

It was painful to get this far, but I have a number of directions I am contemplating taking the story line. I am concerned about length. Nevertheless, I will submit a story to this contest. My postmarked envelope will go no later than April 20th, 2007.

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Get cracking, mister! You're a short story author with a deadline!

I haven’t been free writing the way that I know I should be as of late. I need to get cracking on my next milestone toward NaNoWriMo, which is to enter a “Write To Win” contest sponsored by Writer’s Journal. The deadline is April 20th. I need to deliver a brilliant 1,500 word or less piece of fiction.

Last week, I free wrote starting with the opening phrase “He reached for…”, as suggested by the contest. The next thing I knew, the character of Wade was grappling a letter opener with a high anticipation of its contents.

It was postmarked from Sudan, where Maria is stationed with the Peace Corps. Maria has clearly made a major impression on Wade, during a single day’s meeting during Wade’s recent journey to Africa.

I just looked it up and Sudan is presently an inactive station for the Peace Corps. Intriguing plot line, perhaps?

Get writing, Ryan…

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Who are Maria and Wade?

I tested myself with a free writing exercise. I started with the Writer's Journal contest started phrase: "He reached for..."

It landed me inside of the consciousness of a man named Larry, who minutes later, I renamed Wade.

What do we know about Wade after 10 minutes of free writing and three hundred words?

He is an author.
He is desperately in love with a woman called Maria, whom is thousands of miles away.
He has met her only once in the nation of Sudan.
His sister's name is Danielle and is in the Peace Corps.
Wade is tired of writing to Maria. It has lost its luster. He needs to see and hear Maria.

I need to make this story come to life.

Finished reading my 2nd novel of 2007

I read Brian Freeman’s “Immoral” and would say that it was a fairly interesting read. If I had to give favor to one of the two books I have read so far this year, I would have to give favor to “Human Capital” by Stephen Amidon.

From his bio on his website, I found the following quote from Freeman interesting:

“I recall James Michener saying that you should only get published after you’ve written a million words,” Freeman says. “I must be just about there.”

One of the compelling comparisons that come to mind about the two authors was their choice of imagery in their characters’ sexual escapades. Amidon was extremely delicate, forcing the reader to look for clues by sharing quizzical details on the sexual act. Freeman was more direct and descriptive; very racy and erotic. Amidon tended to focus more on the emotional impact of the act and how it was playing out in the characters’ minds.

I read an article in Writer’s Journal about Jerry B. Jenkins and his book “Writing For The Soul”. I learned that he is very much a Christian writer, which is fine, but I must say I am not overly-religious, which I am sure some of my fictional ideas would suggest. I’m thinking about getting it as many of the reviews on Amazon rate it highly as a motivational book.

See more progress on: Successfully complete my 2007 goals

Lining up plans for NaNoWriMo

www.nanowrimo.org

I have officially set the goal to partipicate in National Novel Writing Month in November 2007. I’ll be honest and say that I am a bit intimidated by attempting this feat.

This is a major goal that was not initially built into my 2007 plans, but I have decided during the last week, why not go for it in 2007?

I have some modest fear of failure on this one. 50,000 original words towards fiction in a single year seems daunting to me as it is; and now I am considering trying to accomplish this in a single month all towards a single story. All the while keeping my day job?

November seems like the perfect month to try this massive accomplishment given other demands.

I will have completed the Boston Marathon in April. The Chicago Marathon is in October, which will fulfill both of my marathon attempts this year. I will continue to run during November, but it will not be as structured.

Mon-Fri: 1,200 words per day
Sat-Sun: 3,000 words per day

This equates to 12,000 per full week and would get me to 50,000 by November 30.

I think I will take at least one more writing class (maybe two) before November to get my creative skills really honed.

I believe my commitment to keep writing will effectively prepare me for the hardest writing goal of my life.

*Just completed an online Beginning Writing course.
*The next two courses that I will take (Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers – Sessions 1 and 2 found at www.ed2go.com)
*Two Writer’s Journal short story contests

See more progress on: Do NaNoWriMo

Class complete: Writing on my own terms

I am a writer. Plain and simple. I have endless ideas, thoughts, dreams and fantasies that I can and will put to paper. I have drive, ambition and a natural tendency to make my writing aspirations come to life.

I have completed my first ever on-line writing class.

I was a sort of pseudo-journalist back in high school for our newspaper. I wrote some columns and covered many of our school’s stories. Shortly thereafter, despite having dreams of becoming a journalist, I somehow ended up on a different path. I have no regrets, but the passion to write has been reborn.

This class was the first step toward writing on my own accord. I am writing without the direction or influence of any teacher or manager. I am writing on my own terms. I am writing because it is what my inner being is driving me to do.

I am only in my early 30’s. I have a very strong career with a healthy salary; with plenty of challenges to keep me interested and motivated. I have a great house and a loving wife. We hope kids will be in our near future.

So, then, why would I be spending a huge chunk of my valuable free time writing? Because I can. And it is what I am supposed to do.

I am an avid runner and marathoner. I am fortunate enough to have pushed myself to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Between running and writing, these are my passions. This is a very poignant change that has occured for me over the past couple of years. Career has taken an intriguing slip in the priorities.

My next two goals are to submit for two upcoming contests, both of which are sponsored by Writer’s Journal magazine:

1. Write to win! contest – 1,500 word limit – Starting with the phrase “He reached for…” – Deadline, April 20, 2007.

2. Short story contest – 2,000 word limit – Deadline: May 30, 2007

In addition, I am contemplating taking a Creative Writing course online that begins on March 21. However, I do need to carefully balance these plans with my work, running and personal activities. I don’t wish to overload myself into frustration, grief and failure.

See more progress on: write a book and have it published

Building confidence in writing

I am continuing to build confidence in my writing. I simply need to spend more time writing. We are now in the last week of the online writing class. I am contemplating taking another one to keep me writing.

I found a Creative Writing course that starts today and I could sign up for it. I think I will hold out until March 21st, when it starts up again.

The characters in my story are Kate Sanderson, Logan Kinkade and Dr. Randall Prowphett. I plan to keep free writing about these characters.

I may take a crack at some non-fiction or personal essay for the upcoming Boston Marathon.

See more progress on: write a book and have it published

Free writing thoughts: Writing development and fiction

I am in the middle of a lesson in my on-line class and I decided to pause for a moment to reflect on what I am learning. The overall purpose of this class is to get me to consistenly write -- every day. I don't care if it is for 5 minutes or 5 hours. I want to keep writing. I want to grow and build my innate talent of creating real feelings and imagery with words.

I have learned some techniques to free write creatively. One thing is for certain that I have learned about myself: I don't have any problem getting words onto paper when I am writing about my personal experiences or thoughts. It just comes so natural to me. There are no pauses or moments of painful debate about what I am writing. It's simple to keep going.

Maybe this is an indication that I am in relatively strong touch with my emotional interior. For years, on and off, I have found myself writing journal entries. Unfortunately, many of these journal entries have been scattered among random notebooks, diaries and MS word documents across several computers since the early 1990's. So it is difficult to see my writing from a journaling perspective develop and change over time.

Another thing that is for certain that I have learned: Writing excellent fictional pieces is and will be difficult. That's where I get stumped.

I completed reading my first novel in quite a while a couple of weeks back entitled Human Capital, by Stephen Amidon. I found by accident in a discount bookstore while spending the holiday season in Pittsburgh. It is an excellent piece of fiction. The characters are brilliantly developed. The plot is intriguing. The symbolistic use of imagery in the upscale communities of Fairfield County, Connecticut to advance the characters' lives is compelling.

Having lived in this area for a few years, I had a special interest in Amidon's creation of the affluent setting. This is the type of fiction I dream to write. It is about the human condition. It is about people struggling to gain wealth, or simply protect great wealth, largely at the expense of their family and personal relationships. It is about the natural desire to be perceived as successful, and the fulfillment that some people take in having a reputation for success -- regardless of what it does to their family life. It is real. It is poignant.

Another reason I enjoy the book so much is the point of view choice that Amidon so effectively mastered throughout the story. My lessons in class tell me that it is third person, multiple POV. Amidon uses four major characters' stream of consciousness to push the story forward: Drew Hagel, Shannon Hagel, Carrie Manning and David Warfield. In each chapter, one of these four characters' viewpoints serve as the lens of the reader.

I started my second novel this year: Immoral by Brian Freeman. Mr. Freeman gained loads of critical acclaim for this, his first, novel. I am only four or so chapters in to the book so far. The story is a suspenseful "whodunnit" with a detective as the main character. The characater development so far is strong and the plot is enjoyable.

However, I am learning that that I am more interested in Amidon's type of fiction, which focuses on real people issues and their humans flaws to seek what they think will make them happy, only to find it can destroy them. Not that murder isn't real or intriguing. Nonetheless, there is something acutely provocative about people who appear to have it all on the surface, and then make life-altering decisions to try to reach even greater degree of supposed love, happiness and success, only to drive their lives into a dark hole of despair, crime or death. Somehow, it is really fascinating to me.

I've started class

I completed lesson #1 of my on-line writing class. It was a good start. It entailed some free writing and connecting our mind to paper. I will be writing a lot. All the time. Spontaneous writing will be important to my development.

Education and diving into writing

I have not been doing much writing as of late. Well, not the type of writing that I would consider creative, stimulating or productive toward my goal to get into print.

My virtual class begins next week. I am ready to dive into it.

It's not like I don't have enough going on in life. But I need to push myself into writing to see if I can really create anything worthwhile.

I am going to try to change this fact in the coming several weeks.