Every once in a while a story idea hits me. I'll burn to tell it for days or even weeks. It doesn't leave my head. I absolutely love when this happens. It's the kind of rare inspiration and passion that makes me love writing.
Inevitably, something concrete outside the world of my imagination gets in the way of the idea. Sometimes this is just a fact of being busy. Maybe you don't have the physical resources to write.
Or, you're faced with the type of block I am now. I know what story I want to write, but I'm missing a critical piece.
A couple weeks ago someone told me about a girl with a rare genetic disease that causes blindness in four years' time. It intrigued me and developed into a character and a story in my mind. The only problem: I don't know the name of the disease and neither does the teller. It seems impossible to invest critical details and truth into the story without research. All Powerful Google has turned up nothing.
As writers, we must have the courage and persistence to overcome all types of 'blocks.' When boiled down, the infamous writer's block is only fear. Good writing takes courage; the rest comes with practice.
With time and will power I may conquer this block and hopefully turn out a project. We'll see how this battle ends.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Book Covers
The whole "Magic Under Glass" thing* has me thinking about book covers. I never knew they could raise such a fuss. Actually, watching the whole thing unfold has been fascinating and eye-opening for me. It's these times that make me feel ignorant and young.
Since I began taking an interest in the publishing industry it's surprised me how much people talk about book covers. About impacting sales and controversies and all that. Whenever there's a post on it it seems like all the readers go on and on about how the book cover is the first thing that makes them pick up a book, etc. etc.
Personally, I never cared much about them. I choose to read books for myself with about 4 different methods. None of them have too much to do with book covers.
1. Recommendations: This is probably how I come across most books. The opinions of bloggers, writers, and friends I respect take top priority. If one of these people says it's good and the blurb is interesting, I'm likely to add the book to my wish list.
2. Amazon Surfing: I love searching for new books online. It's like a scavenger hunt with countless options. I guess you could say when I scroll through pages of options the covers impact my choice, but consciously I'm thinking about titles and number of stars or reviews. When it comes down to decision making, I read reviews.
3. Gifts: Relatives like to gift me with books. I have no say in this, so book covers aren't relevant.
4. Bookstores: Every once in a while I'll stroll through a bookstore, but this is becoming less common. I recently received a Kindle for my last birthday. Yes, book covers matter in a store, but they're not the primary factor. I first choose a genre, then look for books with authors I recognize. And in the end, it's the blurb that matters.
I think my lack of focus on covers may be a sign of the changing industry. You don't see covers on an e-reader. If, as many predict, physical books do disappear completely, covers will be just like CD covers. They're seen on iTunes, but does anyone actually care about them that much? I don't think so.
When it comes down to it the book is about the story. No cover is going to save a bad story or kill a good one.
What do you think? Are book covers still important?
*http://jezebel.com/5451058/magic-under-glass-the-white+washing-of-young-adult-fiction-continues
Since I began taking an interest in the publishing industry it's surprised me how much people talk about book covers. About impacting sales and controversies and all that. Whenever there's a post on it it seems like all the readers go on and on about how the book cover is the first thing that makes them pick up a book, etc. etc.
Personally, I never cared much about them. I choose to read books for myself with about 4 different methods. None of them have too much to do with book covers.
1. Recommendations: This is probably how I come across most books. The opinions of bloggers, writers, and friends I respect take top priority. If one of these people says it's good and the blurb is interesting, I'm likely to add the book to my wish list.
2. Amazon Surfing: I love searching for new books online. It's like a scavenger hunt with countless options. I guess you could say when I scroll through pages of options the covers impact my choice, but consciously I'm thinking about titles and number of stars or reviews. When it comes down to decision making, I read reviews.
3. Gifts: Relatives like to gift me with books. I have no say in this, so book covers aren't relevant.
4. Bookstores: Every once in a while I'll stroll through a bookstore, but this is becoming less common. I recently received a Kindle for my last birthday. Yes, book covers matter in a store, but they're not the primary factor. I first choose a genre, then look for books with authors I recognize. And in the end, it's the blurb that matters.
I think my lack of focus on covers may be a sign of the changing industry. You don't see covers on an e-reader. If, as many predict, physical books do disappear completely, covers will be just like CD covers. They're seen on iTunes, but does anyone actually care about them that much? I don't think so.
When it comes down to it the book is about the story. No cover is going to save a bad story or kill a good one.
What do you think? Are book covers still important?
*http://jezebel.com/5451058/magic-under-glass-the-white+washing-of-young-adult-fiction-continues
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Whistling While We Write
First, let me begin by admitting my lack of whistling ability. No matter how hard or much I've tried I just end up blowing some air out and looking silly. Somehow I wasn't built to whistle and I guess I'm okay with that. (Although, if anyone has some whistling tips I'm happy to listen.)
For a long time I refused to ever listen to music while I wrote or read. That came from some superstition of blocking my ideas. I have found that the music distracts me while I'm trying to focus on something. Despite this, sometimes it's worthwhile to bring some sort of entertainment to an otherwise boring activity.
Benefits of Listening to Music While Writing:
1. Background entertainment keeps me doing the task at hand.
2. I like to use the Pandora app on my itouch, so it keeps me from playing games since I'd have to stop the music to do so.
3. Sometimes the ideas or words in music spark ideas.
Basically, I'm now addicted to Pandora. I still can't bring myself to listen to music while I read, though. I feel like I need to devote my attention to the work of one artist at a time.
What about you?
For a long time I refused to ever listen to music while I wrote or read. That came from some superstition of blocking my ideas. I have found that the music distracts me while I'm trying to focus on something. Despite this, sometimes it's worthwhile to bring some sort of entertainment to an otherwise boring activity.
Benefits of Listening to Music While Writing:
1. Background entertainment keeps me doing the task at hand.
2. I like to use the Pandora app on my itouch, so it keeps me from playing games since I'd have to stop the music to do so.
3. Sometimes the ideas or words in music spark ideas.
Basically, I'm now addicted to Pandora. I still can't bring myself to listen to music while I read, though. I feel like I need to devote my attention to the work of one artist at a time.
What about you?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
So what is SCRIBO?
Scribo is a favorite word of mine from a favorite language, used to describe one of my favorite activities. Since it's quite filled with favorites, I decided it would work to describe my blog. Like the title of my about me section, "Ego," it's Latin. "Scribo" (pronounced screebow) means "I write" and "Ego" means "I am."
Lately I've realized I have a lot of ideas and not enough discipline, time, or motivation to write them down. That's what this is for, along with my journal and novel project. I'm tired of waiting for the right push or block of time. If I want to do what I love, I need to start now. This blog should help.
Basically, I want to write down my thoughts, opinions, and random observations. I like to read blogs, so I figured maybe I should join the party and start one of my own.
In a nutshell, this blog will usually cover the following topics, sometimes relating to teens and sometimes not:
-writing
-the publishing business
-reading
-life, mine or otherwise
I plan on writing posts at least 3 times a week, very loosely on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
One last note. I have a slight obsession with acrostic poems. They're great creative exercises. In the event that I ever have readers, I invite you all to create your own acrostics in the comment sections.
Sometimes I dream or feel or think then
Create stories for others to
Read and love or hate.
If often clumsy they
Bear some mark
Of truth.
Lately I've realized I have a lot of ideas and not enough discipline, time, or motivation to write them down. That's what this is for, along with my journal and novel project. I'm tired of waiting for the right push or block of time. If I want to do what I love, I need to start now. This blog should help.
Basically, I want to write down my thoughts, opinions, and random observations. I like to read blogs, so I figured maybe I should join the party and start one of my own.
In a nutshell, this blog will usually cover the following topics, sometimes relating to teens and sometimes not:
-writing
-the publishing business
-reading
-life, mine or otherwise
I plan on writing posts at least 3 times a week, very loosely on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
One last note. I have a slight obsession with acrostic poems. They're great creative exercises. In the event that I ever have readers, I invite you all to create your own acrostics in the comment sections.
Sometimes I dream or feel or think then
Create stories for others to
Read and love or hate.
If often clumsy they
Bear some mark
Of truth.
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