For me, one of the most interesting things in being a writer is exploring what makes people tick. What sort of things happened in their past that makes them what they are at this point? Bad guys, or good guys, they are that way for a reason.

One thing I’ve noticed in my stories is I’m apparently a big believer in one person making a difference. Not just in the world, but in a person. I can give someone the worst, most evil background I can think of, but if one person comes into their lives at some crucial point, who loves them regardless, that can totally turn them around, despite everything.

Maybe that just means I’m an optimist.

I almost always have way more background for my characters then I can ever really use. As I’ve mentioned before I’m a big fan of the 100 Questions for Characters. It may not be totally vital to know what a characters favorite food is, but then again, it may become something of a running joke. Like one of my characters fondness for peanut butter. One of the ways his family shows they care is by bringing him jars (in this world you can’t just run to the store for it). It’s a small thing, but it has a point.

And it doesn’t always have to be some major, earth-shattering event that makes a person. Maybe they got embarrassed in front of their classmates in school. Or took money out of their parents purse. Maybe they saw something bad, and didn’t stop it or report it. All those little things add up to make a person what they are. And learning those things is one of my favorite things about being a writer.

My good friend Paul wrote a really good and really interesting article (essay?) on plot bunnies that all of you should go read. I promise better entries then just links, later on this week, but for now I just had to share this:

Plot Bunnies

12,033 / 50,000 (24.1%)

Some plot twist thing happened when some random character showed up. At least, I'm past 10k.

Okay, technically I guess this doesn’t have much to do with writing, but it’s awesome and an attempt to do something different. Plus it’s Joss Whedon. Just click it…

I almost forgot to post today. Woops. Well, read this article. Kurt Vonnegut was a brilliant man:

15 Things Kurt Vonnegut Said Better Than Anyone Else Ever Has Or Will

I haven’t been working a log on Norman’s story. For one thing I’ve been messing a bit with his background, trying to get a feel for the man he’s become in long years of working away from his family. Everyone else in the family is close, but because of his job he can only come home and see them maybe once a year or so.

The other thing is, in messing with the background another character has shown up. Someone whose important to Norman and Norman is important to him. Unfortunately for both of them this character is also a teenager at the time this story takes place. So, that makes things complicated.

The other reason why I’m dragging my feet is because I already started writing this once, and I liked what I had so far, but I stopped because I knew I didn’t know enough about Norman at this point in his life. Yesterday I wrote a great little argument and I know where it fits in, I just have rewrite the first chapter, and I keep putting it off. Arguments can be a lot of fun to write, especially when one of the particpants is a teenager lacking the brain to mouth filter.

So, thats my goal for today. Bite the bullet and rework what I’ve got. A lot of it can probably be used as is. Yup, just have to do it. *goes*

As of 8:04 am

9,057 / 50,000 (18.1%)

Wriday was yesterday. I had less then spectacular results only writing 3k in this story. I'm going to keep on keeping on with it. If I don't finish it this month I'll work on it next month too. I think one of my problems is that I get distracted way to easily and also I get into a groove of writing and then something will knock me out of that groove and I just don't care anymore. I want to care. I like this story, I do but what I wouldn't give for some way to write more in a day.

I don't get how other people do it. What's their secret? There are people out there on the forums who spend an inordinate amount of time writing, who just keep going and going, who have already gotten to 50k. There are those who do nothing but spend all day, every day, writing. Should it matter so much that they do? Should it matter so much that I can't be like that? Should it really matter?

I know I'm not the greatest writer in the world and I know I don't type as fast as other people but how come I can't do it like they do? I'm beginning to think I'll never finish.

Sure, I can finish a NaNoWriMo in a month so why is this any different? It's the same concept only a different month.

Is there something I'm missing here the secret writing formula of life?

Somebody clue me in.

Start time - 7:16 am
End Time - ?

Current WC:

7,202 / 50,000 (14.4%)

WC should be: 19,355
Projected WC: ?

I'll update this later.

Last night I went to a writing group I found on meetup.com. Actually I found it via the Nanowrimo forums. At any rate I wanted to take a post and talk about how great finding local writing groups can be. Sometimes it’s a nanowrimo group that meets all year long. Other times it’s a critique group, like this one mostly is. Writing can be a pretty lonely profession, so I find that meeting with other people can be a source of inspiration and encouragement.

I know for me, when it comes to National Novel Writing Month I really need the encouragement and support of other writers. The nanowrimo chat room especially has been great for that. But, it’s also good to meet with people in real life. When we lived in North Carolina I went to a monthly writer’s group (The Cat Vacuumers…isn’t that a fantastic name?) that was always a great place to come together.

If you can’t find a local group, consider starting one. Either through your local library or something like meetup. You might be surprised at some of the people harboring secret or not-so secret writers dreams. It’s something good for both you and the people you meet.

Saw this posted on Lifehacker.com today:

Ira Glass on Getting Creative Work Done

Anyone whose creative and struggling with it should really watch this. He talks most about that gap between knowing what you want to achieve and being able to achieve it. And how yes, it can take years, but you just have to keep trying. Only this is Ira Glass, so he explains it much better then me.