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.