The Lizard ate my Tortoise!

Well, at least...he chewed off a leg.

I read a very interesting post today about how the lizard stops us from writing.

WAIT! - Please don't leave, hear me out.

The lizard loves fear, writers block and excuses. Of which I have an abundance...

I am terrified of rejection.
Can't write a single word when I pick up my pen.
And should really wait until I finish work or go on holidays before I sit down to do this again.

This year so far has been a write off...completely and utterly. So, I have a new plan.

BABY STEPS.

It seems stupid and completely unproductive but my new goal is 500 words a week.

Starting right now!

I am NOT going to think about the fact that on that method it will take 2 years to write one draft, I am hoping for rhythm.

Rhythm is what I want right now and if that rhythm comes in the form of 500 words a week, so be it.

I am partially throwing the "structure" of my stories out the window and reverting back to my old ways of flying by the seat of my pants, because ever since I started thinking that I needed to plan everything down to the last detail, I stopped writing.

I am NOT and organised person, I am a chaotic and creative WRITER.

And tonight I will be playing Sims 3 <<< Damn you, stupid lizard

When Inspiration strikes

For some reason inspiration always strikes me at work.

New story ideas, detailing current ideas, a fix in a plot flaw that I wasn't expecting.

Work does that to me, so I wonder where inspiration will strike after next week? See I resigned on Monday, next Friday is my last day.

No more work = no more inspiration???

We shall see.

Please Inspire Me!!!

I am on the verge of getting hyper with non-activity (double negative I know) because I haven't written. I know when I am about to get bombarded with inspiration or a creativity hit because I get butterflies. For once in my life this is coming at a perfect time.

I am going to start on The Pact tonight! But I need something to push me over the edge with inspiration and excitement and that is usually you guys!

So tell me something, ANYTHING about writing, current progress, current goals, a quote...ANYTHING to push me into unstoppable writing mode which is so rarely attainable at a good time when I have a spare moment.

Please!!

Can you ever create an evil main character?

I need some book recommendations to see if this has ever been done.

An evil main character.

Not a protagonist and an antogonist...

Just an evil bitch as the main.

Too excited!!!

Only 6 more days until I'm free for a month! And what will I be doing with the month long freedom I will have earned?

Writing The Pact I had the idea for it last week and it has not left me alone for a second since then. I am fleshing out new things in my head for this story every second, and there is usually one recently read book on my mind at all times...well at the moment it's my book that I haven't written yet lol.

So get ready for The Half Dead Tortoise to be back with a second wind starting on the 21st of June, I will be back, and I will be OLD!!! I turn 19 on the 22nd...that has come around very, very quickly...

I think I am finally ready to take writing seriously...

A change happened the other day, one I really wasn't expecting especially now.

I have always wanted to write, and always have, but it was always fun stuff that I never truly took seriously. A couple of days ago that thinking changed. No longer did I want to just write whatever, whenever and however I liked. I wanted to really, really write. I wanted to write properly, I wanted to create something that wouldn't just make me happy but that would make others happy as well.

No longer do I want to just write anything that comes out, I want to create a real novel. So it's time to go back to the basics. Plot construction, proper use of dialogue and language, proper structure and formation...all that gumph.

I also want to plan a novel before I write it, not just fly by the seat of pants any more because think about what would happen if I knew what would happen, there would be less ramble chance and a deeper plot and properly formed sub-plots...which would be pretty awesome.

So I am going to need some help, if you will. There a too many writing books to count out there, and I would like to know which ones work. I don't have the money anymore to be able to buy 20 books for only 5 to work. 10 books and 5 working though I can handle.

I have heard lovely things about Orson Scott Card and James Scott Bell (apparently people with the middle name "Scott" know how to write...)

So who else is there and are there any particular books I should be looking for.

Thanks ever so much...and we will see how long this will last.

Writing: A Poem

I won a writing contest :D this is the poem I entered. It's pretty crude because I wrote it in about 5 minutes, so pick it to pieces if you want. I will fix it up later, when I get the time...I just needed somewhere to put it because I'm cleaning out my inbox.

 

Writing is release,
Writing is a cure,
Writing relieves the pain,
and makes my heart pure.

 

Writing picks me up,
Whenever i am down,
Writing starts a smile,
Replacing the ugly frown.

 

Writing stops the rage,
When it starts to stir,
Writing stops the tears,
when emotions start to churn.

 

Writing is who i am,
Writing is what i do
But above all else,
Writing and soul are one not two.

Copyright 2010 The Half-Dead Tortoise. Amanda-Lee Finch

(basically, if you steal it, I will hunt you down)