Funny doing a blog post right now. I haven't written anything for a couple days. I have been so absorbed in reading as of late. Yesterday I spent the entire day reading. I put down my book (Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix) several times with the intent of being done for the day. But I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to do, so I just picked the book up again and read more. Currently anxiously waiting for The Half-Blood Prince to show up in the mail. Might have to read another book while I wait. I'm almost done with Book 5 (Gah!).
Annnnnnnnyway.... There is a new year upon us. Everyone is starting to make goals and resolutions for what they want to do (ok, well most, some aren't), and I had one main resolution for the new year. No, it's not to lose twenty pounds, it's not to get more exercise, nor is it to find that special girl that can actually understand me, but rather to be less self centered. In all honesty, I'm really surprised it took me so long to realize I'm not as interesting of a person as I liked to think myself as. I'm just me, I don't really do a lot. I just read, write, watch a little bit of TV here and there and go to college. Doesn't leave much to talk about in the "exciting" department. I made the resolution to be more focused on the friends I have, showing more appreciation for them, and just enjoying others' company. It's easy for us young people (16-27), to be all about ourselves. I suppose it makes sense, we're young, healthy, and good looking (usually) and the world is at the tip of our fingers. We are capable of doing anything we want, the possibilities are endless. So being self centered comes with the part. I want to go against that mold, I don't like fitting into the "social norm", and as I get older, I'm doing a better job of it. :)
So, let me list off a couple of goals I have for the year.
Reading:
I want to spend at least a couple hours every night to reading. I've been doing this ever since I picked up the Harry Potter series and I'm starting to realize some of the things J.K. Rowling does in her books I could do in my stories. Reading for a longer period of time not only allows me to properly escape from this world, but also analyze how the story is put together. But most of all, read more because it's just plain fun.
Writing:
I usually have the resolve to write. I do sometimes take breaks because I get burnt out forcing myself to sit down and work on writing when I don't really feel like it. Sometimes the breaks come because I need time to recollect my thoughts and reanalyze how I'm going about the story. It also allows me a chance to think about future stories. However, in the past couple days I haven't been working on writing, my thoughts have been divided between my novel and the first book of my trilogy (mainly the intro). Brainstorming is important, for me, it allows me to think things through, which I don't seem to do while I'm making myself work everyday on the same story for hours at a time.
So, that all being said. My writing goals for this year are:
*Get my short stories and two novellas wrapped up and submitted.
*Finish up first and second run through my horror/fantasy novel
*Begin writing first book of trilogy
College:
Ah, while I set myself to some high standards to things I have time to do in my "spare" time. I must pay attention to the centerpiece of which everything my ambition is centered around. This year is going to be a huge for college. I'm approaching my final year at Ivy Tech Community College, which I will be transferring to USI (University of Southern Indiana), a really cool college that is relatively cheap and contains a program where I can get a degree in creative writing. Plus the amount of opportunity I'll have at the campus will be ridiculous, not to mention to finally be around people who actually care and take writing seriously. I love Ivy Tech and what is has done for me, allowing me to go to school without mounting any sort of debt whatsoever, for teaching me so many things about myself as a person, allowing me to build confidence, allowing me to meet a pair of peeps I'm so grateful to have as friends, and even the great teachers. But that college is a joke when it comes to creativity. I like the analogy my friend came up with in class (who has a bit of creative edge himself). Ivy Tech is like tofu, its filling, its technically good for you, and you can get by on it for a while, but there's no flavor.
My goal for college this year is rather simple:
Get an A in all classes.
Of course, this is easier said than done. But I have confidence in myself, and if I get a B, well, it's not the end of the world is it? As long as my GPA stays above 3.5.
Okay, all that jibber jabber is out of the way. Let me briefly cover how things have been going in the writing front, then I'll be done talking about myself.
I stopped myself from writing any new material because I was getting bogged down in what I have written. I want to get my stories finished, and writing is a gradual process, not something I can do in a short period of time. My time has been centered on my novel. And it has been one beast of a story to tackle. I look forward to starting my trilogy, at least it won't so centered on metaphors, emotions, and things that have happened in my past. Revising has been a bit of a turd for it's been tough to get the proper elements/story parts in the right place. And it's really obvious, now that I'm the middle point of the novel, that I put in a lot of filler because I didn't know where to go with the plot. I think I didn't completely comprehend the complication of the story as I was writing it. I thought I did, but looking back, it's obvious I didn't
But thanks to some good reading sessions, brainstorming, walks in the woods, and rereading what I had written, I'm getting a direction for the story and it's starting to slowly come together. It makes me pleased. As far as what I'm doing to help stay focused... I have to say its simply determination to get the novel done as I won't allow myself to start a new project until it's done. Reading a lot has helped in ways I can't even begin to explain. I'll be hoping on the revision train tonight, but if I want to do that and have time to finish up Book 5, I suppose I better get a move on about my day, so I can get back home in decent time.
Happy New Year!!
J.G.A.
I love your motivation. We will be behind you every step of the way cheering. I know you can do this - and reading is part of writing as well. I don't care what anyone says. If you don't read, how can you write?
ReplyDeleteHere's to a fantastic 2012!
I'm *mumble* years older than you, and I still struggle with the self-centered thing. It's not even that I think I'm interesting (I'm about as boring as they come), it's just so easy to fall into the trap of obsessing about my own problems. It's actually part of why I'm so excited about K.T.'s #writemotivation project. It actually helps me feel motivated to be reminded that there are so many other writers out there struggling in the same ways I am. I am not unique. Best of luck with all your goals!
ReplyDeleteHi Jacob! As someone who devoured each of the Harry Potter books, I totally relate to what you said. I couldn't put them down before finishing either. I read them everywhere! LOL
ReplyDeleteYou have some nice goals for this year. You're right not to bother with the "social norm", so much of it is wrong and harmful anyway.
As for writing, you did the right thing in taking some time away from writing. I did the same recently for the same reasons as you, and it has made all the difference.
Good luck with your projects!
Yes, those Harry Potter books are definitely addicting. I've read all of them at least four times, and at the most maybe 8. The 8 would be number 4, it was my favorite.
ReplyDeleteYou're right though, as addicting as reading can be, and as helpful as it is to writers, you still need to make time to actually write. That's one of my goals for the New Year, so along with everyone else in #writemotivation I'll be cheering you on. :)