Fifteen authors, happily ever afters and the ugly truth.

I got tagged by my friend Ian Healy in one of those things that get sent around the Facebooksphere. You know what I'm talking about, right? Usually it's a list of some sort, then you tag people whose answers you'd like to see?

This time it was fifteen authors who have influenced me. You're not supposed to think about it very long, just write down the first people that pop into your head.  I sat down and thought and comprised the list below. It's kind of a mish mash of people...

• Judy Blume
• Stephen King
• Margaret Atwood
• Jay Asher
• Elizabeth Scott
• Sylvia Plath
• Dennis Lehane
• Gae Polisner
• SE Hinton
• Hans Christian Andersen
• The Grimm Brothers
• Chris Crutcher
• JK Rowling
• William Shakespeare
• Wally Lamb

As you see there are writers of fairy tales, tragedies, mysteries, contemporary and juvenile fiction. They range centuries from Shakespeare, born in the 16th century to very contemporary writers, some of which are still among us.

Even though they seem very different, I think there are some common threads, and that is the reason I believe they have been such a great influence on me.


These are writers who, no matter what world they write in, fantasy or reality, they understand that life isn't always pretty.  Even though you may get a message, a moral, or a ray of home in the end, there is not always a happily ever after. 

When you do get the happily ever after, sometimes the path leading there can be horrific and ugly and difficult and not easy to navigate. And sometimes they didn't all live happily ever after, but they simply lived and that was enough for them. 

I think that is why these writers came to mind. Because when I write I don't write what's easy. I write about the evil step-sisters, the Black Forests, the dark wizards of real life. In my books you don't always get to keep your fins, get the girl, get out of the cold, and sometimes just surviving is your "happily ever after."

Why? I don't know. I'm just drawn to it. Will I always right about that stuff? Who knows? I do know that every writer I mentioned above has a hand in making me the writer I am now. 

 Maybe in a not so distant future, when these lists are passed through Facebook, or whatever the social media de jour is at the time, my name will be on someone's as a writer of influence and I can give back what the authors above have given to me.

BTW, the first episode of my new video series is up. Here ya go.

Unlocking Creativity

So I read this article on the Huffington Post this morning, 19 Daily Habits of Artists That Can Help Unlock Your Creativity, and here's what I have to say.

1. Let go of your idea of "perfect." 
Um, yeah, done.

2. Allow yourself to have fun.
The problem with this and me is that I write stuff about the bad things that happen to people. I have fun when I'm done. Either that or drink.
3. Don't be afraid to silence your inner critic.
I know some writers who edit as they write and I can only imagine that can only stifle your creativity. I do not do that. I just write. That is what a first draft is for. It is supposed to be shit. You take the following drafts to make it better and publishable.
4. Realize that you can be your own worst enemy. Not the work.
Do not comprehend. No seriously. Duh. If my manuscript is a mess, and I have a couple that truly are, what, I'm going to blame the book? No, I blame me. And I am the only one who can fix it.
5. But not all self-inflicted boundaries are bad.
Oooh, I'm not good with parameters. Maybe I should try setting some deadlines for myself again. I just realized the other day I have not finished writing a book in over 2 years. I've started a LOT of them, finished, um, nope.
6. Find your mantra and keep it close.
Yeah, I seem to change my mantra about once every six months and I usually forget it in about a day. I guess I should write it down on a sticky note and attach it to my computer with all my other notes.
7. Establish your "me" time.

What is this "me" time you speak of?
8. And indulge in some vices to reset.
I thought vices were bad things. Believe me, I have vices and I indulge.
9. Humble yourself from time to time.
Yes, when I want to humble myself I just go read all my 1 star reviews. Really? Humble myself? I think as artists we are all masochistic my nature. Is that not humbling in itself?
10. When in doubt, ask for help.
I have no problem doing this. If you want to be a beta reader, find me on Facebook. I always just put out an SOS there and pick from the litter who offer.
11. And be prepared to find inspiration in mundane places.
I find inspiration in music, when I take walks, when I'm out to dinner, at the grocery store...I am always looking for a story, or quirky character, or even a glimmer of an idea no matter where I am.
12. To clear your mind, maybe you need to clear your work space.
Um, that will never happen. My workspace is a chaos magnet. I clean it, 2 seconds later it's messy.
13. Find another perspective, even if it's physical.
And if it's writing...? 
14. Let yourself be impulsive!
I love when I get a new idea, or a revelation on a novel I'm working on and I just have to get to a computer or notebook and write it down before it leaves me. Most awesome feeling in the world. ALWAYS have something to write on and with on you at all times.
15. Don't be afraid to see the adventure in a challenge.
I love a good challenge. I love when someone tells me I can't do something. It just makes me want to succeed even more.
16. Because failure is only one moment before success.
Failure just means you are taking risks and trying. How will you know you can do something if you don't try it first. I don't want to live with any more regrets in life. I did it far too long.
17. Don't be afraid to alter your process.
As writers, if we get stuck, it's so important to do something different. Write the middle, write the end, try a different POV, a different tense, take a walk, get inspired. Do something to break through the block.
18. Sometimes, there won't be a "finished product." And that's ok.
Um, yeah, the 15 unfinished manuscripts on my computer tell me that.
19. Because creation can come from destruction.
I've taken thousands of words out of a manuscript and built it back up from nearly nothing. I've pulled them apart, sliced them in half, torn them to shreds. You can always start over.

Don't forget, if you're in the Tacoma/Seattle area I'm going to be doing a wine tasting and book  signing on 6th ave. Click here for details.

Happy Pi Day, Happy Friday.

Song I'm digging this week: Arctic Monkeys, Do I Wanna Know

 Book I'm reading: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Show or Movie I"m watching: The Walking Dead

Quote I'm loving: 

Inspired by Reading

I finally started reading Veronica Roth's, Divergent. I've been wanting to read it for a really long time, but I've been reading friends books, and writing, and you know, there's that thing called life, but on vacation, I finally had some time to actually sit down and relax.

So far, I love it. I'm a big fan of dystopian stuff anyway, so it's a no brainer for me really as a best seller. But the other thing about it is it's made me excited to work on my own dystopian books. I have one adult I started ages ago and one trilogy I'm writing based on the first novels I ever wrote. Last night I got up to 5k on the first book of the trilogy.

I love how reading inspires and I realize how much I miss it when I haven't done it in awhile.I miss the escape, and let me tell you, if anyone needs to escape from life it's me.

Are there any books that have inspired your writing? Tell me.

The Star System

I've decided to take up my friend Jillian's star system with regard to my writing. It's nothing innovative mind you. It's the same system that's been used for decades in the school system to commend children for doing their homework or for a job well done, perhaps with some kind of incentive.

So a couple weeks ago, Jillian showed me her star chart she keeps for writing. She gives different colored stars for how much she wrote for that day. No star means no writing. An asteric means the day job kept her from writing.

I hadn't written for about three weeks until she showed me that chart, so I decided I needed to do something to motivate me. That on top of my BF's Be, Do, Have inspiration got me writing again. I started Monday.

As you can see from the picture, I missed a day this week. So now every time I open my calendar, which is often, that glaring white space is staring at me. I don't like that. I get a bigger star for a bigger writing day. Small for 0-10 pages. Middle for over 10 pages. Large for a finished project.

I'm trying to think of an incentive for when I finish a project. Definitely not food. I'd like to not spend money, but I am thinking a massage or pedicure. Maybe just a nothing day where I don't clean, cook, I just do whatever I want.

Do you have an incentive program to keep you on task with your writing? If so, what is it?

F³A: Peace and Quiet

For those of you who don't know, F³A stand for Friday Free For All. Fridays I talk about whatever I want. Today I'm going to talk about peace and quiet.

The last few months have been so busy. With author events, and doctor and dentist appointments, soccer practices, music lessons and gigs. The last free weekend I had was Memorial Day weekend.  So I'm getting the hell out of T-Town.

When I need some peace, I like to go to the ocean. My parents have a place there, so I can really go whenever I want, but since I've been so busy, I've not gone for a long time. I don't even really go to the beach any more. I know it's there when I need to see it. I like to hang out with friends, go to the casino (it's the only time I go to the casino and I only drop up to $40), but mostly I like to write.

I've been so stuck on this rewrite, I'm hoping being away from everything and getting outdoors with inspire me to get focuses and get this thing done. I have to finish so I can work on the other projects I'm really excited about. I have ideas for one dystopian series, a fantasy series, and other contemporary realistic YA's. I also have another finish manuscript that needs some revision.

What do you do, or where do you go when you just need some peace and quiet to get projects done?

Okay, Friday Scribbles:

Next Pandora Song: Tongue Tied by Group Love

Netflix of the Week: I've barely watched any television lately, but last night I had some laundry to catch up on, so I watched Friday Night Lights, the show.  I started watching it awhile ago and really liked it, but just haven't had the time to watch. So I'm on season one.

Book of the Week: Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont. Combination of contemporary and classic literature, so far I really like it.

Quote of the Week: "Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it." ~Amir from the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Inspiring the young

Last night I had an author gig with J Anderson Coats ( The Wicked and the Just), Helen Landalf (Flyaway), and Carole Estby Dagg (The Year We Were Famous) at the Everett Public Library.  While attendance wasn't epic, the audience was engaged, especially a fourteen year old girl who was in attendance.

After our moderator was finished asking questions, this young girl (her name was either Maggie or Katie, I can't remember which) asked question after question about our writing styles, writers who inspire, etc etc. She honestly asked the most questions of anyone.

And even though her mom made a comment to us about, "oh yeah, we've met some successful writers..."

Um.

...this young girl was excited and endearing. And this is one of the reasons I love to do these types of visits. Inspire people to read, inspire people to write, inspire them to never give up on their dreams.

Even if I'm not yet "successful" lol.

Tuesday writing tips: Writer's block.

We've all faced it at one point or another, right?  Here are some tactics I use to get through it.

Take a small notebook everywhere you go.
When something pops into your head about your WIP, write it down.  It may help move things along later.


Do something that give you clarity.
Mine is taking a walk.  I always end up writing something in my head while walking and it almost always offers me some clarity.

Write a different section of your WIP.
I've done this-moved on to a section where I know what's going to happen, then go back to where I was blocked and see what happens.

Outline (or kind of outline).
I'm not really an outliner, but when I get stuck, I will take a notepad, at the top I write the beginning of the story, at the bottom I write the end, then in the middle I write things I know I want to happen.  Then I have some points to work with and I find ways to get from point A to point B.

Take a break.
Do something else for a little bit, chores, gardening, watch TV, anything to rest your brain and eyes for a few.

Do something that inspires.
Music often inspires my writing, so sometimes when I'm stuck, I listen to music.  Mostly indie.  That always gets me going.

What do you do when you get writer's block?

Friend or Foe Friday

I've been inspired by so many lately, tis the season I suppose, I can't possibly name one person today.  There are my email writing friends who make me laugh every day and are always there when I need a sounding board.
 
There's my 2K11 group, basically we're all in this crazy rollercoaster that is the publishing biz together.  It's nice to have that kind of support.

Some of the people in my office went to the Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast this morning.  I didn't go this time, but have in the past.  The people honored there are those who go out of their way or risk their lives to help someone else, a stranger even.  If that's not inspiring, I don't know what it.

Rusty also has been inspiring me to keep  my chin up and look at the good all around me.  If you read my post yesterday, he's the one who told me when I'm feeling down to think about what I'm thankful for and why.

Basically I'm surrounded by goodness, and people who have my back, and support me, and that makes me want to be that kind of person too.  Not just during the holiday season, but all year round.  Emerson has a wonderful quote.  "Scatter joy!"  That's what I want to do.  I don't always want to be the angsty writer, but the scatterer of joy, the sprinkler of bliss, the caster of rapture.

It's a choice.  We all have it.  I choose it. 


~Megan

Solar Powered

My friend Gae wrote a great blog this morning on creative flow and where it finds you. Gae is my little mermaid friend. When she's struggling to write, she can always find clarity under water. On her blog, she posed the question, where does your creativity flow? I had to stop and think about this. Mostly I'm just sitting at me laptop writing and it comes, but not always.

And then it came to me.

The sun.

The giant blazing orb in the sky.

I used to be a slave to my computer room. My old laptop battery never worked, so I was always plugged in. Or on the desktop. And no matter if I had the light on (I have one of those natural light bulbs in there) and both shades open, I wasn't happy in there.

When I bought my new laptop, I transitioned to my dining table. It was an organic shift. But why? It's because of the sun. I have a large picture window with a southern exposure, and as the sun slowly moves from east to west throughout the day, it casts rays of light through that window continuously. And those rays of light shine across my floor and "shadow" me.

I have another window at my back. It faces east. As the sun rises up into the sky it warms my back, brings me comfort, like the arm of an old friend wrapped around me.

When I need clarity, I go walk out in the sunshine. Feeling the sun on my face always makes me feel better.

What about the not so sunny days? I do live in Washington, where it's gray more than anything. I flip on all the lights, open the curtains and put a photograph next to me that my beautiful friend Lori gave me of a blue sky (she is an incredible artist and photographer) until the sun shines for me again.

41, 4.0

Another goal of mine is to improve my craft. Writing is a never ending learning process. There is always room for improvement.

So far, I've been learning from friends and those who have generously offered to read my work. But I have books. I have Stephen King's book, On Writing. I have books on grammar and punctuation, books on how to develop characters and make your story better.

I want to be the best that I can be. With that comes dedication, hard work, sacrifice, being open to criticism, surrounding yourself with people who inspire and motivate you, and understanding that you will never reach perfection.

Thanks for reading.

Kisses,

:*

Megan

EDITED TO SAY: My friend Jeff pointed this out. "Great writing takes a combination of talent and skill. Talent comes from practice; skill comes from knowledge. You can be a good writer with either/or, but you can't be a great writer without both."

He's so right, and I forgot to point out that while I want to learn more to perfect my craft, it also takes practice, which goes back to one of my other goals which is to write more. :)

Musical Inspiration

I've never really written about music that inspires me to write, and after I read my friend, B. Miller's blog, I decided it's about time I should.

I don't listen to music when I write, I can't have any distractions or I get all scatterbrained, and if you know me, you know I'm easily distracted. However, I do THINK about music when I write. A lot, as music has always been an important part of my life.

I actually believe I there is a soundtrack to life, mine constantly changes, back in the 80's it would have consisted of bands like The Cure, The Smiths, Ministry, your 80's goth, new wave. In the 90's Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden would have been the soundtrack of my life. These days, it's a little less alternative (though it still has its place, for instance, Nirvana's Lithium) and a little more Indie. Some Brandi Carlile, Mat Kearney maybe some DCFC.

When I'm writing, it seems logical that when writing scenes I think about certain songs. I remember when writing my second book, Dena Powers: The Trouble with Boys there was one scene in which Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars played over and over inside my head. The scene was written, and it was perfect (okay, maybe not perfect, but I thought it was pretty darn good).

Writing Mending Fences, Indie music was
constantly on my mind. I even start each section of the book with song lyrics from Death Cab, Badly Drawn Boy, and Tiger Army. Death Cab's, I Will Follow You Into the Dark has a major part in one scene. Before revisions, Weighty Ghost by Wintersleep also played a major part. I ended up having to cut it.

My last book, Lockdown, I begin with lyrics from My Chemical Romance's Teenagers. While music doesn't play a major role in the book, music did run through my head, mostly Emo stuff, like MCR, and Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco.

So while I don't listen while writing, and while it doesn't always make it into the book, music is always an inspiration for me.

Top Four Ways to Get Through NaNoWriMo: #3 Inspiration/Vices

I'm not condoning any illicit behavior here. But if something motivates you, inspires you to write, then by all means, have at it.

I have to start my day out with coffee. I cannot function without it. It's like the synapses in my brain can't find each other without caffeine leading their way.

Whatever you need music, smokes (I do not condone smoking, but you know, some people need that), sunshine, photographs to remind you why you are doing what you're doing. Whatever it takes.

If I'm writing at night (which is rare) I like to have a glass of wine next to me. Red. Only one. More than one and the writing gets all wonky.

I know it's short, but to the point. Do what makes you write.

Friday Free For All: Inspiration

Some friends and I have been talking a lot about inspiration lately. Sometimes it's so hard to stay up, to stay focused, motivated. I admit, sometimes I am easily distracted by apathy, angst, and abjection (I know, hard to believe).


So, I have to search for inspiration. I find it in many different forms.


Quotes. You can find one for anything and everything on the Internet. I like to look them up and use them as my email signature, or post them to my facebook page where I can read it, live it. There are a lot of intelligent people in the world with wonderful things to say.


Music. What kind depends on what I'm writing. Usually I like to listen to angsty Indie, or alternative, profoundly sad or moving songs. Yes, this seems like it may depress, but actually, it does inspire me to write, especially the pieces I've been working on as of late. Now, if I'm working on my middle grade novel, I tend to choose more bouncy danceworthy stuff. Music I might listen to while working out.


Nature. Okay, maybe not the gray skies (those of you who know me well know this). But I'm inspired by the raw sometimes cruel beauty of nature. I like to include all aspects of nature in my novels, be it a blooming hydrangea or a withering sunflower. A majestic mountain or the change of the fall leaves. I will even write about the gray skies though they cause me nothing but grief. :)


People. I have so many inspiring people in my life you'd think I would be "up" all the time. And I know who to talk to for every boost I need. I have the one who will tell me to get off my ass, the one who will tell me to man up, one to tell my my writing is awesome, one to tell me it sucks and needs work, one to tell me I'm pretty, one to tell me I'm smart, funny, ROX. One to tell me I can do anything I set my mind to. I could go on and on. Many of you know who you are (if you even read this, which I'm SURE you ALL do).


So tell me, where do you find your inspiration?


Song of the Week: Just Breath by Pearl Jam


Movie of the Week: Drag Me to Hell What can I say, it's October?


Book of the Week: Bloodroot by Bill Loehfelm (I'm almost done! Look for review next week)


Quote of the Week: “Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” ~ James Dean He knows better than most.

Top Four Reasons to Join my Friend Gae's Facebook Fan Page: # 1

She's inspiring. In so many ways.

I told you about her road to publishing. How hard she worked, writing and revising for hours at a time. She's inspired me to do the same. She read my manuscript, told me what she thought it needed based on her feedback from her agent and publisher. I think she's right. So I've started revising. Now, if you know me, you know I hate editing and I hate revisions. But Gae got me excited about it. Almost like I'm working on a new project instead of perfecting an old one. And I know she has inspired others in the same way.

Just seeing her get this book deal makes me believe it can happen for me too. Not that, if she can do it, I can do it, but if you dedicate yourself and research and toil and the writing is good, it can be done.

Gae has always been a support to all her writing friends, cheering us on, commiserating with us, telling us to get to work. She is honest with her opinions about our work. Tells us what's good, and what's um, not so good.

She makes us strive to be better.

She inspires.