the writer's dojo

MRU: Motivation Reaction Units

noreply@blogger.com (Amy McBay) — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

A few months ago I did a post on Scene and Sequels. A step down from that is MRUs. An MRU is Motivation Reaction Units or in other words, something happens (motivation) and your character reacts (reaction).

Why are these things so dagum important? Your character needs to act, or your story becomes boring. So give your character Motivation to react. This should be a reoccurring thing throughout your scenes. Heck, you probably already do it!

Example:

A pirate slaps our ninja in the face (motivation)

The ninja stabs the pirate with his sword (reaction)

The ninja didn’t sit around and think about how he had been slapped in the past, or that the last person that slapped him was mother-in-law. No. He reacted immediately.

A reaction can have up to three parts. You can have one, or all of these parts but they must be in the order of:

(1) Feeling

(2) Reflex (reflex has no conscious thought to do it. He flinches, he jumps…)

(3) Rational action or Speech

Back to our pirate and ninja using all the reactions in our MRU:

The pirate slaps the ninja (motivation) The ninja is shocked (feeling) the ninja takes a step back (reflex) then stabs the pirate with his sword.(rational action) (end MRU) (begin new MRU) The pirate… Well, you get the idea.

What are some great MRUs you are working on?

Let's Think Of Something To Do While We Wait and Wait and Wait

noreply@blogger.com (Cassie Mae) — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:00:00 +0000

"Patience is a virtue."

Whoever started this phrase, I'm coming after them.

Now, I'd like to think I'm patient, but here's the thing... I can only be patient for so long before it becomes impatient, then it becomes agonizing, then it becomes something I totally forget about.

Writers have to wait.

They have to wait a lot.

Whether you self publish or go traditional, there is A LOT of waiting.

So what do you do with yourself so you don't become a crazy (er) person?

I pull out another WIP to distract myself. Or I pick a book from my sky high TBR pile. Or I critique other people's stuff. Books are always my 'go to' when I need something to save me from boredom or refreshing my email every ten seconds.

It's good to keep ourselves busy with writing so we don't forget how to, but another thing I've found that helps with the waiting is just...

Living.

It's easy to become so wrapped up in writer world that we forget that there's other things out there. Now, writer world is a happy place. I LOVE writer world. But I also love my kids, my friends, my family. And as cliche as it is, time flies. I don't want to look back at my life and wonder why I didn't spend more time with real people.

And it also helps pass the time. That agonizing waiting period is so much easier when you've got friends and family to share it with you. :)

Cassie Mae is a YA/MG writer and superhero mommy (at least her kids think so). Books are her life, but that doesn't make her a nerd. Well... maybe a little. :)

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Writer's Block????

noreply@blogger.com (Miranda Hardy) — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:33:00 +0000

“Does Writer’s Block Really Exist?” Some say “yes” and others say “no”.

The truth…I have no idea.

Personally, I don’t allow myself to believe in it. I believe we can ALWAYS write. It may not be what we want to write about, or it may not be that scene that teases us, you know the one – the next on the list to get completed. But just keep writing and you will get there (quicker than pondering – I promise). When the feeling of being stumped on a scene or character or which way to take the story – WRITE! And write. And write. And keep writing! You’re brainstorming this way. If you don’t have anything to write, write: “I don’t know what to write.” Our brains are non-stop machines that are constantly processing info, so use this to your advantage. You will end up writing exactly what you were looking for, and as soon as it flows out through your pen – you’ll know (and I bet you won’t be able to stop writing after that happens). The reason I don’t call this writer’s block is…there are so many new ideas, scenes and pieces of dialog that come from this free form or writing. Yes, there may be a lot to go through, and some may be nonsense – BUT, keep writing and you will overcome the writing drought you thought you were in and you’ll end up being where you want to be and probably even farther!

If you’ve ever signed up for NANO during November, you’ll know have experienced this feeling perfectly. The personal challenge of writing 50,000 words in a month is, well, overwhelming to begin with, midway through you’re on a writing roll and feeling that anything is possible, and by the end you’re jumping up and down with that awesome feeling of accomplishment!

So, there’s ABSOLUTELY NO reason not to write! Get off that hamster wheel of thinking you’re suffering from writer’s block and WRITE!!!!!

Miranda Hardy is a graduate of Indiana University, Kelley School of Business. She has worked in banking for many years and currently underwrites corporate credit loans. She also writes young adult fantasy and horror novels to keep the voices in her head appeased.

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Distractions As Deadlines

noreply@blogger.com (Kathleen) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Life is full of distractions. As writers, we live our lives on the computer where Twitter and Facebook and all of those other social media sites offer up a load of distractions to keep you from doing what you need to finish that book or those revisions.

But what about the other distractions? The ones from your kids or your friends or the timer on the oven telling you supper is ready?

These are the ones that are harder - if not impossible - to ignore. So what can you do about them? Treat them as deadlines.

Write or Die by Dr. Wicked

It may not be easy to predict when you will be distracted from your work, but setting quick and short goals for yourself is a good way to get a lot done a little at a time.

Try doing 5 minute writing sprints. Sure, that's not a whole lot of time, but it's enough to get a few sentences down before the next distraction. If you're not sure you can do that, try WriteorDie.com. Or, if you are a little freaked by the idea of that particular site, how about WrittenKitten.net where you are - instead of punished by taking words away - rewarded by seeing a cute picture of a kitten. Who doesn't like cute kittens?

If neither of these are for you, try free writing. The more you practice the better you get. Soon enough, you've got hundreds of words written before your next distraction comes along.

If you treat distractions as deadlines, the distractions are still there, but they become useful, pushing you to do your best in the time you have.

***

Kathleen is a writer of YA Paranormal Romance and Fantasy. She lives with her husband, two kids, and a cat in Southern Indiana where she spends her days watching bad sci-fi movies and reading all the books. Her writing began with poetry when she was 12 years old. As she got older, she became interested in writing stories and books. She majored in Theatre in college and loves delving into the psyche of of others, figuring out what makes people tick. When she’s not reading a book, playing with her kids, or pulling her cat out of a tree you can find her on Twitter, Facebook, or her blog.

Novel Ninja Amy McBay!

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Today kicks off the beginning of the new and improved Narley Ninja feature! It's been renamed to the more appropriate Novel Ninja and is held simultaneously here and on ali's blog. The goal of the Novel Ninja is to introduce you to up and coming writers and to learn a little something about them--whatever they want to tell us.

And how awesome we get to start the Novel Ninjas with our very own Amy McBay!

♥ ♥

Why write wolves? I love them. I’ve had dreams of wolves all my life, and usually the same black wolf with a little white patch on her chest. I’ve always had a very vivid imagination. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my now two year old that I started writing her adventures down, and turning them into a novel. Most of the book came to me in dreams, and what didn’t I was able to fill in myself. I love visiting this reality I’ve made for myself, and one day soon I hope to share it with others. Maybe by the end of the year!

I’ve been writing for almost three years now, though only two of them as a serious writer intending to be published. I’m in the process of editing and having to learn as I go. I never expected to be a writer, it just happened, but it’s something I’ve come to love and obsess about.

I don’t just write wolves, I read them. Patricia Briggs writes some darn good werewolf books! I also enjoyed the Shiver series by Maggie Stiefvater, and of course Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, to name a few.

I’m a proud military wife, a devoted mother of a beautiful daughter and adorable son, pack Alpha to two loving dog companions, and servant to an amorous cat. I was raised in a creative family, and excelled in art and graphics until my High School Graduation. Afterwards, I joined the Air force and served for four years until getting out to better care for my children.

I have always been a vivid dreamer and during the pregnancy of my son I started turning my dreams into a book. My world is full of werewolves, pixies, dragons, angels, demons, ghosts, and vampires. I’m a daydreamer, and a bit of a hermit, an artist, a bookworm, and a writer. I’m opinionated, and honest. People have said I’m silly, odd, weird, a dork, a geek, and even a little crazy. They are right on all accounts. I am all of this and more.

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♥ ♥

If you would like to be featured as a Novel Ninja, just join the dojo using the linky list you can find here.
We'd love to have you join us!

Putting in the Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha Seegmiller) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I want you to take a minute and think about something you just get - something that you are good at (you know you have something...now's not the time to feign modesty). Got it?

Now I want you to take a minute and think about how much time you have put in getting good at that thing. Baking, sewing, painting...whatever it is, if you are are good at it, you have put in the time.

I have been playing the piano since I was four. When I started middle school, my practice time moved to 6:00 am. Every morning. From 6th to 12th grade. 45-60 minutes a day. I'm not a Julliard pianist, but in many situations I can hold my own, because I've put in the time.

So...you want to be a writer. Guess what. You need to put in the time. By most counts of the studies that have been done to study talent, 10,000 hours.

This isn't going to happen on accident. You aren't going to just magically dabble in writing off and on and hit the 10,000 hours. This kind of a time commitment can only come from sincere and dedicated effort.

This is something that I have been struggling with - making sure my writing time gets the priority it deserves. I haven't found that magical time of day that just works for me, but through the process, I'm figuring out what doesn't. And I think that is as important because it means I'm on the way to discovering.

I'm not about to let my lack of commitment be the reason that I don't achieve my goal.

What have you put time into that has been rewarding? Have you made the commitment to put in the hours to achieve your goals?

Tasha Seegmiller is a teacher, mom, wife and writer. She loves owls and runs on Diet Coke and cinnamon bears and words.
Find Tasha on her blog and Twitter.

Author Interviewing Myself: A Confession.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Asanuma) — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:56:00 +0000

Ninja Interviews. Though it's not nice to call people stupid.

I have a confession to make. It's a little bit embarrassing, but it's something that's always helped me as a writer, so I thought I'd share it with you, in case it might help you, too.

Sometimes, it's hard to keep up enthusiasm for a project that's been in the works for a long time. That's not the confession, but it is a fact. It's not that I stop loving the story, it's just that I start feeling like a bit of a fake. Like I'll never make it. Like my little story that I adore will never so much as hit shelves, much less be read and loved by others.

So I have a trick to combat these blues. And this is where my confession comes in: I interview myself.

Yep, you read that right. I give myself an author's interview. I pretend that I'm being asked questions by a fan who loved the book and can't quite believe that she gets to talk to me. My imaginary rabid-fan interviewer asks the basic questions: "So what inspired you for this project?" and some ridiculously fannish ones like "So are we ever going to see more of ________" or "How was it to write that scene where _______ and _________ finally kissed?"

I have to admit... having a rabid fan, even an imaginary rabid fan, boosts my ego enough and gets me excited about my book enough to jumpstart me when I'm in a dryspell. Because I hope to really have fans like that someday. And besides that, these little author interviews give me the chance to talk about the book in the way a finished author does--which is to say, excitedly and fondly. I'm not only giving myself an ego boost, I'm visualizing the journey as being done, so that I can feel like it really will get done.

So how about you? Do you have any embarrassing tricks that help you when your writing is slowing down? I'd love to hear them!

Things, They are a-Changin'

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Don't you just hate do-overs? At least when it comes to your writing? You write this awesome scene (or in this case, blog post) and then you lose it for one reason or the other--and you can never write it as well as you did that first time. *sigh* Yep. I totally hate that.

So this is my second attempt to detail for you a possibly complicated list of changes that we are implementing here at the dojo.

Feel free to ask me questions in the comments if I (probably) don't make sense.

INSTRUCTORS
We have a group of awesome writers here, many of whom are moving on to publication and increased demands on their writing time. So to lighten the load on each of us, we are "promoting" all of our instructors to regular contributors. You've met them all during the A-Z Challenge, and now you'll enjoy hearing from them more often. I'm excited to welcome them all to the dojo!

POSTS
We are doing away with the daily posting and "training"-based articles. Now, our instructors will post Monday and Wednesday and will share whatever writerly thing they feel inclined to share. I expect this to be nothing short of awesome since we have fantastic bloggers here with a lot to offer us in the way of instruction and encouragement.

NARLEY NINJA
Narley Ninja is a feature I started on my own blog over a year ago. Once a week I would feature a blogger from the linky list (you can find it here). I've renamed this to NOVEL NINJA (there are conflicting definitions of "narley" that even the dictionaries can't agree on), and it will continue, with a few minor changes. A Novel Ninja will continue to be featured on my blog on Friday (an excellent day for blogging!) and also here on Friday. I hope this will bring maximum exposure to each of these awesome writers.

If you haven't signed up already, go ahead and do it! I'd love to feature you. Also, if you've signed up in the past, but haven't been featured yet, make sure you have a way for me to contact you in your profile or on your blog--a few times I've been unable to contact the writer, and that's just sad. :(

#NINJACHAT
#Ninjachat is moving! We'll be hosting it here at the dojo, as opposed to my own blog. The instructors will also take turns hosting the chats, so keep your eye on the sidebar for that week's #ninjachat schedule.

GIVEAWAYS & #WritingNinja
Who doesn't love giveaways?! Not us! So we're kicking things off with a Hundred Followers giveaway! Be sure to enter--the contest is open all month. Also, tweet using the hashtag #WritingNinja and you could win a prize! Prizes will be awarded at random, so don't miss out--get tweeting!

NINJA NEWS & RESOURCES
Three new features here at the dojo! Huzzah!

If you look at the top of the blog, along the header, you'll see a bar that says "Announcements", "NinjaCHAT" and "NinjaNEWS". Click on the NinjaNEWS button to share your writerly news! Things like, "I finished my first draft!" or, "I joined a critique group!" Whatever is news in your writer-world, whether big or small, we want to hear it! Now, for those bigger announcements like, "I got an agent!" or "My book is being published!" You can leave those on the NinjaNEWS comment box, or you could leave them in the comment trail of the NinjaNEWS page and I'll add them to the page properly so your fantastic news is immortalized for all to see!

Similarly, if you have a resource (free or otherwise) that you'd like to pass along to other writers (QueryTracker! InkPageant!) go ahead and leave a comment on the Resources page with the information and I'll add it to the page.

The dojo could be an excellent and dead-useful place to help each other along our way--but it's really a team effort. After all, it's a training studio, not a pulpit. So jump in and share your fabulous news, resources, whatever!

Okay, whew! How'd I do? Are you thoroughly confused now? If you've got questions, ask away! This blog is here for your benefit, so it's important to us that we get it right. Also, there will be no post this Friday, but Monday we'll hit things full-swing!

Thanks for training with us!

Ali Cross is the sensei of the writer's dojo where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, two sumo dogs and four zen turtles.

She's the author the young adult urban fantasy novel BECOME, and a member of the Author's IncognitoExecutive Committee.
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"Z" is for ZEN

noreply@blogger.com (Amy McBay) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

As writer’s, we are forced to juggle many roles in order to do what we love. We struggle through the day job, do our home chores, study the craft, read, squeeze in some time to write, and eventually we need to sleep. It’s no wonder writer’s hit that wall the hardest.

From time to time we have to step back. We have to pause and reflect what we want, what we need, and what we will have to give up. In short, we have to find our ZEN.

Writing is a tough job, It’s even harder when you are stressed and pulled in a hundred directions. Sometimes we have to learn what we are capable of doing, and what is just going to have to be put on hold until you have the time to accomplish it. Sometimes we overfill our plates. We take on blogs, groups, and other commitments until we are so busy, we don't have time to do what we love. WRITE.

If we are not writing, we are not writers. It’s when we are writing that we are happiest, it’s when we have found our ZEN. So let go, relax, and write!

Have you made more commitments than you can handle? How often do your commitments get in the way of your writing?

Amy McBay is a proud military wife, a devoted mother of a beautiful daughter and adorable son, pack Alpha to two loving dog companions, and servant to an amorous cat. Her world is full of werewolves, pixies, dragons, angels, demons, ghosts, and vampires.

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"Y" is for Yes!

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

A few years ago I saw Yes Man with Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. It was as silly, goofy and funny as I thoughtit to be, but I hadn't expected it hit me in such a profound way.

The story's about a new age movement of enlightenment where you learn to say yes to your life and everything in it. The main character is a self-absorbed man who's grown accustomed to saying no . . . to everything. A friend drags him to one of these yes seminars and (because there wouldn't be a story if he didn't) the main character finds himself saying yes to everything.

And I mean everything.

In doing so, he discovers experiences and relationships he never would have encountered before--and his life is richer for it.

I came away from that movie thinking about all the things I could say yes to, things that were hard for me, a challenge. Things to which I'd always said no. Like the guy in the movie, I discovered things about myself I didn't know. Things I liked. I made friends with amazing people I'd never have taken the time to know, before.

I am a better person today because I learned to say yes more often.

Of course there're still no's--every day there are no's. But there are so many more yesses that fill my life with joy!

So if you're accustomed to saying "no" more often than not . . . try out a yes from time to time. You might just be surprised what comes your way.

Did you see Yes Man? What did you think of it?

"V" is for Versus

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Dialogue Tags Versus Beats

I think dialogue is one of the hardest parts of writing. It’s so hard to make it sound natural, to avoid a volley of clipped, choppy “he said, she said” sentences that make your characters sound like they’re in a B movie.

Sometimes the word said is necessary. Because readers really do need to know who says what. But often you can tell the reader who is speaking by using beats, and eliminating the need for dialogue tags.

A beat is an action that is cushioned between or around dialogue, giving the reader a fuller picture of what’s happening to and between characters, what they’re thinking, and how they’re physically reacting to what’s being said. Not only do beats take the place of tags, but often they help establish setting, character quirks, and other actions that physically move the story and/or characters forward.

Consider the following:

“Murtagh,” Abby said. “Murtagh, where are you?”

“Murtagh?” Abby stood on the patio, glancing around for her friend. The bright sun had warmed the stones under her bare feet to the point of almost being too hot, but rather than go back inside for shoes, She stepped into the sand and walked toward a cluster of palm trees that swayed with the light breeze blowing off the ocean. “Murtagh? Where are you?”

The first is fine, and totally correct. But the second tells a lot more about the character, weaves details into the story, and eliminates any question as to who is speaking. And be honest, which would you rather read?

So when you’re struggling with dialogue, perhaps it will help you to picture your character, what they’re doing, and blend the dialogue throughout.

Best of luck!

Nichole Giles had early career plans that included becoming a megastar actress or a rock star, but she later decided instead to have a family and then become a writer, in that order. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her husband and four children, travel to tropical and exotic destinations, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

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"U" is for Undaunted

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

How many times have you sat down to write and thought, for just one sencond, you were going to check in on Facebook, Twitter, just a few emails and then your prime writing time (and if you are like me, your brain) has gone the way of the dodo bird and you really didn't get the important stuff done.

Or worse, you just don't feel like writing at all.

Think about your favorite athlete. What if that person woke up one morning, decided they had stayed up late reading a really good book, with sick kids, watching _________ and that they didn't really feel like they were at their best to play that day. Absurd, right?

Think about it. When warming up for a game, ball players listen to music to prevent distractions from anything else. Singers are often heard before their performance, pacing and singing scales, keeping the voice warm. We need to have the same consideration for our brains.

When it is time to write, it is time to write. No social media, no google. Just get the music that inspires you, notes if you are a planner (me!) and go. Distractions are always going to be there, it is our responsibility to hone our ninja discipline and face the task at hand with a mind set in determination. If we train ourselves to block these out, our opportunity to have success will be significantly enhanced.

Tasha Seegmiller is a teacher, mom, wife and writer. She loves owls and runs on Diet Coke and cinnamon bears and words.

Find Tasha on her blog and Twitter.

"S" is for Success - When can you call yourself successful?

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Asanuma) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Writers get hung up on the words "success" and "successful" a lot. When can you call yourself a successful writer? At what point can you look at your chosen career of wordcrafting and think "Now I'm a success"?

For example: I'm not published. Okay, I have a teensy little story anthology with Isabelle Santiago that's self-published, but I don't have any novel-length material out there, and that is my main focus.

That said, I do consider myself a success. Am I quite where I wanted to be when I looked forward five years ago and was expecting to be published by now? No. But I have 65K of my first novel written, 50K of a second novel (because it took me a while to get into the just-work-on-one habit) and have learned a lot from the challenge of having to write a short every other week for Tales From the Hollow Tree.

Besides that, I've made an intense study of the publishing industry, trends in writing (not that I write to them... I wouldn't be very good at it even if I tried) and what works in writing. I've done the best to get where I am, and I know that when I do get to that finishing line of having a manuscript completed, it will be the better for the time I've had to take on it.

And for that, I call myself a success.

What about you? What makes YOU a success?

Lisa Asanuma graduated with a Literature degree from the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara. She has worked as a freelance writer and as an editor for Drollerie Press, and she is the co-founder of Type Set, Inc, an editing and formatting service. She’s currently working on a YA fantasy novel, but in the meantime she publishes a new short story for free every other Friday at Tales From the Hollow Tree, a fiction blog she shares with author Isabelle Santiago.

"R" is for Robot

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

And a robot is exactly what you do not want to be!*

Do not write for agents.

Do not write for publishers.

Don't even write for readers. (Okay, maybe you can write for readers, but first . . . first, you need to write for yourself).

The quickest way to put your story, and your career, to death, is to treat your writing like a chore, like a job. Don't get me wrong, you need to be professional--work like a selling author, absolutely. But for heaven's sake, love what you do.

Don't be a robot, churning out whatever for the sake of mass consumption. Be YOU. Love your stories. Write the books you want to read.

Do that, and you'll not only be happy, you'll be successful.

*Let it be known that I happen to love robots. But for the sake of this post, the robots I'm referring to are those tin-can guys with absolutely zero personality. Not the awesome robots like the one from Lost in Space :)

"Q" is for Quokka

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

And in case you haven’t heard, a quokka, according to the Oxford American Dictionary, is “a small, short-tailed wallaby with a short face, round ears on top of the head, and some tree-climbing ability native to Western Australia.” Pretty sweet, huh? But what does that have to do with writing?

To be honest, quokkas are cute, and quirky, and have absolutely nothing to do with writing. But just saying the word makes me smile. (Say it with me. “QUOKKA!”) And sometimes, that’s the whole point. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our quotas and meeting our goals that we almost forget to enjoy the magic of writing. One of the best “kicks” in life is writing. If we didn’t love it, there’s no way we’d work even half as hard at it as we do.

The quokka is what you need to remember if you find yourself hitting a wall with one of your projects. The best trick is to get a kick out of what you do. Write a scene that you will most definitely, 100% chuck out later but that is funny as hell (maybe even one with a quokka) and gets you out of your head and into the groove. And don’t stress too much. Quokkas don’t like it when you stress.

by Gina Blechman

"P" is for POSSIBLE

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:44:00 +0000

Let's face it, there is no amount of planning, powering through writer's block, or perfect punctuation that will help a writer achieve their goals.

Unless said writer believes it's POSSIBLE.

The thoughts and feelings in our head are powerful! Especially to writers. We often times hunker down in our minds for hours on end trying to breathe life into our ideas. So if among the characters, and world building going on in that head of yours, is the belief that your writing goals just aren't POSSIBLE, then chances are, they won't be POSSIBLE.

We can be our own worst enemy. Especially when we hear that this person or that has a writing degree, landed a deal, found their dream agent, or is selling books left and right on Amazon while you are still writing that first...or fiftieth draft. Don't be mad at them. They believed it was POSSIBLE and made it happen. There is no need to compare yourself to others. We have a hard enough times measuring up to our own expectations. Why not start by simply believing you are good enough and your writing goals are POSSIBLE.

Do you believe what you want in your writing journey is POSSIBLE? If not, what is keeping you from believing it?

I am a thirty-something mom of two...sometimes three depending on how the hubby is acting:) I love to constantly think of stories to write and every once in a while those ideas make it to the computer. I have no college degree (as of yet), no special credentials--just a love of writing. Maybe lil' ole me can make it in this writing biz with just my mind and an outlet. If I'm super lucky I can help some other newbies along the way. I love, in no particular order: zombie stories, reading anything to take me out of real life for a bit, watching storms on the front porch, sunsets, making new friends and my family. I blog on Tuesday and Friday or whenever I am dying to spill the beans about something. Visit my blog!

Warm Up: Wait! There's a World Outside of Writing?

noreply@blogger.com (Cassie Mae) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Why yes, yes there is!

There have been times when it feels like writing has consumed my life. Every single thing I do, all I can think about is how I'm going to get character A to plot point B and how antagonist A will stop at nothing to prevent them from getting there.

Or I've got agents 1-5 to send queries to.

Or there's critique 4, 5, and 6 I've got to read and get back to critique partners.

Or I've got 200 blogs to read.

And I've spent more time with my computer than I have with anyone else.

I never knew when I 'signed' up to be a writer, I was signing up for a big huge time-consuming lifestyle. I love it, but I can NOT forget there is a world outside of writing.

Writing can get overwhelming if you let it consume your life. GO OUTSIDE. Sit with your family and friends. Take a day or two away from the computer. Trust me, taking the mind break will give you the inspiration and stress reliever you may be looking for.

Cassie Mae is a YA/MG writer and superhero mommy (at least her kids think so). Books are her life, but that doesn't make her a nerd. Well... maybe a little. :)

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"N" is for Ninja Tag: Accountability

noreply@blogger.com (Amy McBay) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I usually start my writing session with a tweet. Getting started on chp (whatever I’m working on) #amrevising #writingninja

Ali started the #writingninja hashtag and together we use it to mark our progression. We have the other tags here at the dojo such as #ninoremo #ninoqumo #ninowrimo, but we found it much simpler to just use #writingninja. It consolidates all tags into one. Easier to follow you with my dear.

The tag holds me accountable. I feel if I don’t reach my goal I have to let it be known to the twitter-vers I failed. Sometimes I’ll be writing when my phone alerts me to a new tweet, and I’ll find someone either checking how the writing session is going, or just tweeting to cheer me on.

So the next time you sit down for a writing session, update us with the Ninja Tag! I’m always lurking, and would happily cheer you on ;)

How do you hold yourself accountable while writing?

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“M” is for Magnificent, Memorable Masters

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Master Miranda says, “You are magnificent, memorable masters in your craft.”

Remember this when you sit down at your computer, desk or other chosen writing space. Cast all doubt aside and know you are the master of the words you create. Your words will be memorable and magnificent, just as you are.

Know that whatever you seek to do in life is attainable. Own it! Love it! Live it!

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

by Miranda Hardy

"L" is for Lots & Lots of Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Muchas Gracias

by Jenny Moore

When I think of great people that have helped me out and that I owe appreciation to, my critique group comes to mind. This super-talented group of people has painstakingly baby-stepped me through the writing process, spending hours over the last few years helping me improve. They have dedicated this time to working with me, helping me to turn my manuscript into something that I am so proud of, taking time away from their own writing. They have never rolled their eyes, or said, “Seriously, are you grammar-challenged or something?”

How can I ever show gratitude to these people?

Here’s what I’ve come up with…First of all, a good dose of thank-you-very-much goes a long way. People appreciate being recognized for what they’ve done. And then in order for me to be a contributing member of the group, it is up to me to get educated. So, I’m learning...attending writers’ conferences and workshops, listening to podcasts, reading books, etc. I spend time reading and re-reading my critique group's submissions, really looking for ways to help them improve, instead of just skimming over their pages and telling them how great it is.

Hopefully, I can grow as a writer enough to help these people who have helped me. And it’s synergistic, right? By working hard to help them, I’m helping me, which helps them, which in turn helps me…

"K" is for Kicks & Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Using Pictures as Writing Prompts

Sometimes, the creative juices needed to write amazing worlds comes to a grinding halt. When this happens, one place to turn is to writing prompts. There are plenty of sites out there dedicated to helping writers find inspiration through writing prompts, but did you know you don’t have to use words to find inspiration?

If you’re anything like me, then words don’t always cut it. I’m a visual person. It’s seeing with my eyes-beautiful scenery, paintings, and sculptures-that helps me hurdle those walls that get in my way. Unfortunately, there are times when getting out into the world just can’t happen. I’m either restricted by time or keeping up the household. So, instead of turning to the outside world, I turn to the World Wide Web.

There are dozens of photo sharing sites that are ready for your perusal. Here are three of my favorites:

Flickr is hosted by Yahoo and has many creative commons licenses, so if you’re not only looking for inspiration, but that perfect picture to put on a blog post, this is a great place to start.

Photobucket makes it easy to search for what you want or need. Or, you can just explore.

Webshots is another great place to look at beautiful photography. It’s where I found the perfect image to help me describe a difficult setting in my WIP. Searching for what you’re looking for or just exploring is simple.

There are more out there, but these are the ones I use because they are free to look through. If you’re interested in more, do a search for photo sharing sites and you’ll come up with a bunch of places that have paid memberships and are probably as good as these free sites I’ve listed.

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Forms: I'm Not Jealous. I'm Motivated!

noreply@blogger.com (Cassie Mae) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:00:00 +0000

I think most of my posts come with a disclaimer of some kind. Usually telling you I get quite lengthy. That's not the disclaimer today. Today I'm going to warn you I'm going to be extremely vulnerable in this post and you may think less of me for it. Or you may find yourself relating to it, but you'd never admit that, right? ;)

Because I'm human, I get jealous. I've tried not to, really, but no such luck yet. Now because I'm part of such an awesome community where I hear success stories all the time, the jealousy bug tends to nip me in the butt far more than I'd like it to.

When I hear someone got a major book deal or signed with an agent or released their ebook on Amazon I'm 99% happy and 1% jealous. I post a comment celebrating and really uber excited for them.

Then about a day later, I'm about 90% happy and 10% jealous.

More time passes, the more jealous I get of this person's success. And it's not that I want to take that away from them, I just want it to happen for me too and I start to wonder if it ever will.

People, I try my hardest to turn every negative thing into a positive. Jealousy doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's a human thing. And we can use it to give us that big kick in the butt to achieve those things for ourselves. If we want success for ourselves, we fight for it.

And though this makes me sound like a horrible person, I can't wait to make people jealous of me someday. :)

Any other ways you can think of to turn jealousy into a positive emotion?

"I" is for Imagination

noreply@blogger.com (Amy McBay) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

^(^.^) one of my favorite movies!

I start my day with chores, everyday. I can’t write until the house is clean, or appears clean. This also gives me time to wake up, and warm up to my story.

While I do the dishes, mop the floors, vacuum, make the beds, or whatever else needs done that morning, my mind wonders to my story world. I imagine what my characters are doing, how they are reacting to obstacles I put in their paths.

Sometimes I even imagine them cursing me for the troubles I keep giving them.

They are very much alive to me, like my imaginary friend was when I was five. My characters keep me company through the day, and I go to sleep at night imagining new terrors for them to encounter. I think this is why writing called to me. I have always had such a vivid imagination.

Many may think me crazy for admitting I have imaginary people with whom I have conversations, but I know every writer reading this today is nodding their head in agreement. Our characters are real to us, and that doesn’t make us weird or crazy. It just means we have what it takes to make a story real to our readers.

How does your imagination influence your day to day life? Do you see your characters cursing you for the troubles you cause them?

"H" is for Hope

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Hope is a hallmark for writers.

Everything we do is designed around the hope that our words will amount to something--a story that has depth, meaning, value. Hope that our stories will be read and enjoyed.

Hope that we'll be able to write another story that will be received and appreciated.

And the beautiful thing? Hope is a limitless commodity with more than enough to go around for all of us.

"G" is for Green

noreply@blogger.com (ali cross) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What, you may be wondering, does green have to do with writing? Only a little bit, but that little bit counts.

I used to watch a show called “Deadliest Catch” where people went out on boats and lived dangerous lives as they caught the crabs that lived in the Bering Strait. Anytime someone new came on board - someone who had never before gone out on the crab boats – that person was called “Green.”

Now, how this relates to writing:

There are a lot of Green writers out there. You’ve been writing for a month, or you only started writing today. It doesn’t matter.

Everyone started out Green.

Even if you’re feeling as if you’ll never live up to the writer you admire the most, that’s okay. That writer has those same doubts, years later after their Green has worn off. Stephen King, James Patterson, Anne Rice. It doesn’t matter who you read now, they all started out at the same place: The beginning.

And there’s plenty of time for you to learn what you need to learn. Writing isn’t as dangerous as catching crabs, but it takes just as much dedication. You need to read a lot, you need to write a lot, and you really should look up and try out as much advice as is available - and there’s a lot available.

So, don’t fret the color of your writing. Don’t worry about where to go or what to do. Just keep reading, just keep writing, and just keep learning.

Besides, Green is a beautiful color=)

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