Good news is...

I've just written almost 1500 words.

Writer's block: Smashed.

Me: One happy camper.

Have a great weekend! X

I'm heading into my writer's cave to sulk in solitude.

I've hit critical mass with my writer's block. Either I'll start writing, or I'm in for a long week of being a seriously grumpy camper. 

Grumpiness happens when I don't write or edit, so I'm rather going to take myself offline until Monday in the hopes of getting a breakthrough. It's not really something I want people to experience first hand.

See you on the other side.

Writing Lesson in Horse Riding

I recently figured that hey, I write about knights and cowboys. Maybe I should learn how to ride a horse myself.

It's something I've always wanted to do. There's something absolutely beautiful about seeing a horse and rider in harmony. Something almost mystical.

Learning how to ride, is another animal altogether. There was Calypso, who hates me. Really. I went up to him, trusting him and... well... He tried to head-butt me. And the riding went worse.

So given that Calypso was out to get me, my instructor introduced me to Juno. Now Juno and I hit it off. With Juno, I thought I'd be able to go all the way.

Except the second time I rode him (yes, I know it's stupid to name a stallion for the Roman goddess of women and motherhood), he started to do things that made me less than comfortable. I mean, I'm new to this riding thing. So when I want the horse to stop, it's nice to know the horse will stop. Still, I figured it'd be okay, since I'd grow better as I practiced more.

The lesson after that, though, I was asked to ride Quicksilver. Now Quicky is rather an ornery beast. He's the one who puts all the horses on the farm in their places. And when he does, he kicks butt and takes names. He's also the one who wants to be in front no matter what, so he's faster than either of the other two. And he bites any horse who tries to take the lead from him.

The thing is... Quicky and I simply hit it off. Sure, he was fast, but never in a way that undermined the trust I had to put in him. In fact, riding him gave me the confidence to think I could actually learn other things. Most importantly, though, he loves me too. If there's a group of people and he's loose, he comes to me and lowers his head for me to pet him. Is he the horse I can trust? Possibly. He might change his mind later, but for now, we're getting along perfectly, even if logic says I shouldn't have liked him.

Incidentally, today, I had to ride Juno and my mom had to ride Quicky. Juno was actually scarier today than Calypso. And my mother felt the same way about Quicky.

Now, I bet you're wondering how I'm bringing this to writing. Well.

When I started writing, there was a western. We got along okay, but when my mom took my computer and gave it to someone else, I stopped working on it for years. The spark just wasn't there. (Juno.)

Later on, there was a fantasy. A quest, in fact. With a chosen one. But it was dark. Took me places I didn't want to go. In fact, it was part of some stuff I was going through at the time that really really messed me up in ways that made my university issues look like kindergarten. In the end, I burnt it. Yep. Wiped it, and all the back-ups, and burnt all the plans and drawings I'd made for it. (Calypso)

I have a few other drafts that I could explain, but right now, there aren't horses that match them.

Finally, in walked a character while I was re-reading Chronicles of Narnia. After all those failed attempts, I'd decided to give up on writing idea until I was certain that my idea was a good one. The character didn't take no for an answer, and the story he revealed to me was so good that I knew I'd finish it. To put money where my mouth was, I even started this blog as My First Book. I planned it to be a blog of me finishing a book and getting it published.

Was it because the story was easy? No. In fact, my older bloggy friends might recall that I called it The Beast. The story was huge. It defied my every attempt at pre-planning. The characters were reticent. In fact I hated one of the main characters. But I couldn't give up. I didn't want to. (That story went on to become The Vanished Knight.)

Maybe it's too soon to make this call, but that sounds a lot like Quicksilver. A bit of a bastard, but hey, it picked me and I love it for giving me that honor.

So in summary, the lesson I've learnt so far in writing and horse riding:

Just because you're struggling to get into it doesn't mean that you should give up. It could be that you just have the wrong horse for right now. 

 

Anyone want to talk about the drafts before the one they finished? 

Return of the Writer's Block

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but for the past week, I've had visitors from the Netherlands. It was great having them. We took them all over the area to enjoy the beauty of our landscape.

In addition, we went to places like lion sanctuaries etc. which I haven't ever been to before. Of course, all this is great for my muse. 

She's probably assimilating everything she saw into even more story ideas. 

Needless to say, I'm glad I had this week out in the world. 

But there's a bit of a hitch. Now that I'm back, I'm so exhausted that I can't seem to start writing. I'm past half-way with the Birds vs Bastards rewrite, but right now, I'm just staring at the empty page. Even though I've already written the whole thing. 

I already know what's supposed to happen. But for some reason, something about the section I'm supposed to start now, just doesn't want to come out. 

It's like something's clogging up my mind. Usually, I don't mind, because usually I know exactly what it is that's keeping me from writing a given story. Mainly, it's another idea, so the moment I sit down and write the idea out, I can go back to my main story. 

This time, though, I can't put my finger on it. I can feel the block. But there's just no visible reason for it. 

I haven't felt this way since I finished The Vanished Knight (Doorways, for those or you who missed the announcement). But I do remember. Days and weeks without writing anything because something snarled up my lines of thought. 

Getting so stuck that I couldn't even write a blog post. 

So in the scheme of things, this isn't too bad. And I already know what to do to make it better: 

Nothing. 

Forcing the issue never works. Even though I'd love to be all gung-ho and I'll-write-now-because-I-want-to, but that's not how my mind works. 

So, knowing that my self-imposed deadline for this rewrite is the end of September, I'm taking a gamble. I'm going to take time off from the rewrite (and any writing except blogging) until I'm good and ready to get back to it. Hopefully it'll be soon. 

How do you deal with writer's block? 

Before I go. I just want to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives or loved ones on 9/11. 

Paying Forward Awards: The Winners

Sorry for the delay in posting this. Things have been going hectic for the past week or so, with me mainly being nowhere near an internet connection.

Anyway, I think it's time for me to announce the generous souls who've volunteered prizes as well as the winners. Because the nominations exactly matched the number of prizes, there won't be a vote this time. 

First off, thanks to the following sponsors!

Alex J. Cavanaugh

E-Copy of one of his books

Mark Koopmans

Another Legendary Hawaiian Care Package (US Shipping Only)

M.L. Swift

A Writer's Survival Kit (US Shipping only)

Gwen Gardner

Signed copy of Giving Up the Ghost (US Shipping only)

Rena Rockford

30 page/3 chapter critique

Christine Rains

E-copies of her whole 13th Floor series

Terry W. Erwin II

Signed copy of Flank or Genre Shotgun

J.L. Campbell

An e-copy of Christine's Odyssey or Retribution

Me: 

A $10 Amazon voucher. 

And now, the Inspiring Bloggers: 

Charity Bradford

Christine Rains

S.K. Anthony

M.L. Swift

Jeff Hargett

Charmaine Clancy

Cassie Mae

Ava Jae

Kyra Lennon

If you're one of the winners, please contact me at mishagericke(AT)gmail(DOT)com to claim your prize. 

Thanks to all of you who make the Paying Forward Awards possible! 

Credo

I was going to write a nice little thing on editing, but something's bothering me.

I've been hanging out (mostly lurking, sometimes commenting) in some google plus communities. And... Well...

Seems as if the writing community collecting there has one hell of a dark side.

About a week ago, some writers were putting stuff up on the internet saying that writers aren't writers unless you've a firm grip on plot and characters, on grammar etc. Which I think goes above and beyond trying to discourage new writers. So I wrote this.

Then, a few days ago, someone asked whether or not one should actively put messages into the stories you write. I said that I don't, since I think that telling people what they should think is a bit presumptuous. Sorry, people who do actively put messages into your writing. I know some of you who read this blog do it. And that's okay.

That's not really why I'm writing this post, though.

No. It's the response someone left to my comment.

To quote:



"Well, you most certainly can write with that pointlessness +Misha Gericke. That's your prerogative. I'm in the camp that those who have a message have a story. Whether or not someone believes it or likes it is irrelevant. There's an audience for every message, even the message of relativistic nothingness.
If you don't have anything specific to say then you have no right to expect people to read what you write or listen to what you say.

Personally, I know I'm right in what I write as far as my message is concerned. Some may call that arrogant. Some call it confident. I don't know much but the stuff that I know, I know. Therefore, it's not presumptuous for me to convey what I know. It's loving because there are many people who don't know who, after reading my material, will know. That may enrich their lives a little more. That's a good thing. And even if they don't agree, I've still enriched their knowledge by giving them the other side of the coin.

Time is life. Therefore, I believe as a writer you should make sure you have something to say before you waste people's time.

Like the wise sage Monk on his television program used to say, I could be wrong...but I'm not."

What's annoying the crap out of that message is this: 

"If you don't have anything specific to say then you have no right to expect people to read what you write or listen to what you say." 

and

"write with that pointlessness" 

It's really hard for me not to go off on a rant about this, but instead, I'm going to catagorically state some hard truths. 

This is my writer's credo:

1) My writing's purpose is to entertain people. The way writers of stories are supposed to entertain. This is a writer's first duty. 

2) The writer's second duty is to fulfill a purpose in society. This purpose is to show society the effects of our beliefs, choices and actions in a way relevant to a given story. It does not give us the right to make judgement calls on what's right and what's wrong. 

3) I am a chronicler. A scribe. Not a teacher, preacher, politician or moralist.

4) I have my own code of ethics and morals. But writing is not the medium through which I'd force them on anyone else. 

5) Story and character must always come first. Not the message. Never the message. In fact, the message shouldn't exist.

6) Creating a message is the readers' prerogative. Not mine.

7) I have absolutely no right to deem any writer worthy or unworthy of writing. Or in any way lesser than me because they have a different approach to the craft.  

As I said, I know that some of you will disagree with me. Some of you may disagree with every single point of my credo. And that's okay. 

But what's not okay is to be disrespectful of someone else for what they believe to be right. This is what all this is about for me. 

Respect. Respect your readers. Respect your writing colleagues. Respect humanity as a whole. Because we're all part of all three groups. We all display characteristics of those groups. So if you can't respect them, you can't respect yourself either.

IWSG and Novel Films Blogfest II

Hey all, welcome to another round of IWSG. First of all, I want to thank Alex J. Cavanaugh for putting together such a great group where we can share our insecurities without judgement and encourage others who are worse off than us. Thank you for a great two years.

If you haven't yet, and want to join, please go here.

So, for once, I'm not particularly insecure about anything.

Instead, since this is the two year anniversary, I thought I'd turn it around and post 10 messages of encouragement. I hope you'll find one that fits you.

1) Any novel is a scary prospect in the beginning. Keep going. You'll regret it if you don't.

2) Word for word. That's how a novel is finished.

3) Reading is a valid way to spend writing time if you're too tired to write.

4) Inspiration comes from life, so don't resent it when life comes knocking at your office door.

5) Never let rejections get you down. You only need to find the right person. You might also want to look to yourself, or to indie publishers if you're stuck with agents.

6) No matter what people say, you're a writer when you write. So never stop because someone doubted your writer status.

7) On that subject, there are idiots out there who will try to get you down. Laugh at them and go on. Odds are, they're trying to hurt you because they're living empty, meaningless lives.

8) Writing is your legacy. Don't waste it by publishing too early because you're dang tired of editing.

9) Editing sucks, but to see the finished project is awesome. Let that be your reward. An amazing finished manuscript.

10) No unfinished novel is a failure. It's a lesson. The difference between a writer with a shelved novel and a failed writer is that the latter gave up on writing altogether.

Anyone else have words of encouragement?

Now, on to the final post on the Novel Films Blogfest. 


Today's Questions: Have you read any novels where you have yet to see the films/ TV adaptations?

I probably read a few, since I'm a voracious reader. But the one that matters most to me is this one, because the movie still needs to be released. 


Which book adaptions are you looking forward to? 

The Novel Films Blogfest II #1 and #2

I goofed! Somehow, I got my dates confused for the blogfest, so  I'm doing day one and two together. Sorry everyone! 

#1

I'm supposed to write about movies I loved, but where the original novel left me cold. Or the movie that prompted me to read the book. 

Usually, those are one and the same. 

I know it sounds odd, but I have this interesting (and often useful) issue. I don't forget something I've read or seen.  Ever. 

Yes, details might grow squiffy, but I only need to see an image associated with the story or read a bit of it, and I recognize it instantly. 

The blessing in this is that I have this living encyclopedia of plots in my head. 

The curse is that if I read a book first, the movie will be ruined, because it jars with the story I have in my head already (and hopefully liked). The same is true for the reverse. 

So, to think of a recent example, The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks. The changes to the movie weren't all that big, but big enough to spend most of the book going "hey wait" and comparing it with the movie I'd enjoyed. 

And anything that jars me out of the story gets to me. 

In a sense, I'm more forgiving if I read the book first. I guess it's because I can see film adaptions as items to themselves, while the book always feels connected to the movie for me. So that's what I do these days. I either read the book first, or I avoid reading it at all. 

Anyone else share my unique brand of insanity? 

#2

The adaption I'd most like to see (yep, as far as I can think, there is only one...):

A modern remake of Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini. 

I'm Co-Hosting the Novel Films II Blogfest

Some of you might remember the Novel Films blogfest from last year. I do because it was fun and interesting to see who liked which movie adaptions and why.

So when Madeleine posted she needed help, I stepped in. Late on Friday. Which is why I'm only posting this now.

Anyway, the entries are still open, so I'd be thrilled if you joined. Here's how it works:

Like last time, it will be a three day fest and on each day there will be something different:However, you can choose to post on just one day if you prefer.

Paying Forward and IWSG

Nominations for the Paying Forward Awards will close on Friday, so please get your nominations in if you haven't yet.

And for you astute people who noticed that the blogfest coincides with IWSG, I will be doing both bloghops on Wednesday.

Anyone in for the Novel Films II Blogfest?

Also, happy Labor Day to all my US friends. :-)