My inspiration

My creative writing class had a discussion about writer's block. How do you overcome it? I shared some great techniques that I learned in my previous writing class. The thing is that my answer is so simple. For me, I just watch an episode of my favorite TV show, watch a favorite movie, read one of my favorite books, or listen to music. I often listen to music when I write. I'm hooked on that feeling that I get when I'm lost in a story.

Songs tell a story, just like books, TV shows, and movies do. I get lost in those stories. It helps with the creative flow. I stick to books by my favorite authors, sometimes I re-read the same book twenty times. A good story makes you fall in love with the characters. I want to keep turning the pages. I hope to inspire that same feeling in readers when people read my stories.

A friend recommended a YouTube music video to me today that I've never seen, "Sweep the Leg" by No More Kings. It's got tons of great 80's movie moments in it. The actor who played Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell is in it. It made me laugh. I went in search of Matthew Broderick Super Bowl Commercial again. Matthew Broderick will always be Ferris Bueller to me. I have these moments that made me smile and inspire my creativity.

A device that inspires my creativity is my transmitter. It allows my iPod music to play through my car stereo. I use it all the time. I have playlists for scenes that I'm getting ready to write. My characters have favorite songs. I make playlists for all of these and play them back when I need a little extra boost to keep momentum going. I'm getting to the point where I know my characters so well that they each have a favorite movie. For example in my latest story, Come Back to Me, the main character, Lexi McKenna's favorite movie is Romancing the Stone. Mike and Lexi's song is "Forever" by the Beach Boys.

My favorite author is LaVyrle Spencer. Ms. Spencer based most of her books in Minnesota, which is where she was born and raised. I recently had the honor of meeting Kansas City author, Dyann Love Barr and discussed her work with her. Her most recent novel, A Perfect Bride For Christmas, is based in Kansas City. My main character, Lexi is from a small town in LaPorte County, Indiana. I'm setting my stories in places where I have been so there is a real feel to the story. I want to make my story locations come to life.

I'm choosing to write about places that I know. I hope that it will give my stories a more real feeling. I've never been to Minnesota, but thanks to LaVyrle Spencer, I feel like I have. I want my readers to have that experience. I hope that I will be able to write characters that are real to my readers. That all starts with inspiration. Due to my various sources of inspiration, I'm starting to get to know each one of my characters and my story is moving right along a little bit each day. Thanks for allowing me to share them with you.

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

A friend referred me to an editor. The editor is nothing short of amazing, but expensive. I'm going to have to decide what needs to be submitted, and what doesn't. Everyone has been so encouraging. I'm amazed every time someone compliments me on my work. I did not grow up in an encouraging atmosphere. I had a working class family who wanted to ground me in reality and told me to work hard to support my family.

So, I worked hard at a regular job and spent years writing stories in notebooks. Thanks to the Internet, I finally found the courage to post some of my stories. The response was so pleasant and unexpected. I've never had anyone tell me that they enjoyed my writing before. Okay, I did in high school. I was on the school newspaper. I wrote stories that my friends read. It was fun. To be honest, it's been a long time since high school.

It's nice to have a creative outlet that I enjoy and have people tell me that I can make money from my writing. I've always dreamed of becoming a published author. The people in my creative writing class have been so supportive. I've had lots of helpful hints. The most helpful hint is to keep writing. Write, write, write- edit later. I just to thank all the wonderful people who have given me feedback and been so supportive. Thank you. If I don't get published, I will consider self-publishing on Amazon. I promise that everyone who reads my stories will be able to read the finished product.

A New Beginning

This is day one of my new blog. I'm not used to creating blogs or webpages, so bear with me. I wanted to use my name in my blog address under blogspot, but the system wouldn't allow it. I want readers to be able to find this blog, so I came up with the idea to add the word writer along with  my name. Hopefully, it's not too cheesy or redundant. I can imagine people saying, "Yeah, we know that you're a writer. Are you trying to convince us or yourself?" The answer is neither. I just wanted something identifiable with my name because I am a new writer and I want people to find this blog easily.

So far, my writing experience has been limited to writing on sites like Fictionpress and in my Creative Writing classes. I won two honors in my last creative writing class. One of the judges wrote that he or she wanted to read more of my work. That comment really motivated me to continue writing. I signed up for two more writing classes. I'm in my third one now. We were doing the activity, Two Truths and a Lie. I mentioned my awards as one of my truths. I'm really proud to have my writing recognized.

A classmate in my new class commented that she thought that statement was the lie. She also commented that I must not really be that good of a writer if I'm still taking creative writing classes. Yes, she really wrote that. It really woke me up. There is a time to learn through practice, and there is a time to learn through experience. I'm realizing now that it is time for me to learn through experience, trial by fire. I received a couple more comments like this from classmates and realized that I may not be in the best place to grow as a writer.

It may be time for me to leave the safety of the classroom and enter the world as a serious writer. I decided to join Heartland Romance Authors this week. I went to my first meeting yesterday. From the moment I sat down, I knew that I was in the right place. I felt like I belonged. These men and women are experienced and serious about their craft. It's a step in the right direction. What a relief! I sat down to the computer today and felt better than I have all week.