Janis I. Monroe's Blog, page 8

Creative Writing Challenge

Hello, everyone!

I have decided to do a little creative challenge. I am going to post a picture and I want you to write a story using the picture in 500 words or less. You can post your stories in the comments or email them to me at jisoucie@hotmail.com and I’ll announce the winner on July 22. As the winner I’ll post a picture, short bio and your story on my blog with a link to your website if you have one. Here we go!

 

Quiet Solitude

It’s after 10PM and everyone is in bed asleep. Even the dogs. I should be. Having a newborn I should be sleep when he sleeps but it’s so hard when the writing bug has come and won’t leave! Not that I want it to, mind you. I have one project in the works right now and thinking about another one I am planning to write for Camp NaNo in April. I know you’re probably thinking I’m crazy even thinking about doing this with a baby. And no I’m not one of those that does fine on little sleep. I do best on 9. But I am finding that even a little bit of writing, helps me cope with the stresses of everyday life. Plus, it’s fun and I enjoy it. With only 500 words as my word count goal, I think I should be able to reach that each day. We’ll find out!

I’ll be writing a short story this time around. Fantasy like. 

How many of you will be writing this April?

Will you be writing fiction, nonfiction, novel, or short story?

I would love to hear from so feel free to leave me a note in the comments.

Bye for now!

Hmm…Wondering.

Hi everyone,

I haven’t written anything in some time. I have hit a dilemma. I would like to know what you want to hear from me. Do you want to hear writing updates, writing related posts and news, guest authors, ect. Please let me know so that I can serve you better. Looking forward to your comments.

All the best,

Janis

Happy writing! :)

Snow Day Inspiration

My daughter is home from school today and my little man is 4 months old today. It is hard on these days when I have both kids. Trying to work through the noises from the TV and my daughter playing. But these moments can also be moments of creative inspiration! I never know what will pop into my head while watching my daughter play or watching a movie with her. My little guy can do the same thing only his inspiration comes with noises and the funny faces he makes.

For those writers who have children, do you find that you draw inspiration, even a small amount from your children? Has any of this inspiration ended up in your stories? We all know how much we can be inspired, but just how much of that inspiration do we actually use?

I admit, I’m guilty of not using a lot of inspiration that comes my way. I try to write down all the ideas I like. Well, I guess I also write down the ones that aren’t my favorite just in case I change my mind later, which I have done.

When you have a Snow Day (no school), what fun things do you do? How much writing are you able to get done? How do you manage your writing with kids running around?

I would love to hear what you have to say. Please leave a comment or feel free to email me at voice4butterflies@gmail.com. Also, if you’d like, please also send prayer requests.

Wishing you all a day full of less pain and good mobility!

God bless!

In the Morning Hours

The early morning hours beckon me to awake. I’m not sure why but here I am taping on the keys to my keyboard. These seem to be the the hours where creativity kicks in. And all before the birds and sun awaken.

It is 3:46AM EST on this last day of November, and I have a couple of hours before I have to get my daughter up for school. These hours are mine and so the words must pour forth from my soul for I cannot hold them back. I have much to say on many topics. I have a couple of articles I’d like to write and then work on my memoir, Reflections of the Heart.

In Reflections of the Heart, I share my story of losing my mother as a teenager at 17 and how my faith in God saw me through the pain of loss and moving forward with my life even though it was difficult. I want to write this story to give hope to those children and adolescence who have lost either one or both parents. You are not alone and there is hope. There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel of grief.

Have you lost a parent while in your teenage years, or younger? What things did you do to see you through the grief and to help get yourself back on your feet? I’d love to hear your stories if you are comfortable sharing them with me. If you don’t want to leave a comment you can email me at jisoucie@hotmail.com.

Also, if you’re a writer, when are you most creative, early morning, mid morning, late morning, afternoon, evening?

My best to you in all you do today! God bless!

J. Soucie

6 Key Steps To Finding Your Passion As A Writer

Have you ever had a love of writing but at some point, find it died out and writing became more of a chore. Where did the enjoyment go anyway? The following article has some good tips to getting that passion back!

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By definition, writers are passionate creatures. You can be an exquisite writer by tapping into the passion of being yourself.

Source: 6 Key Steps To Finding Your Passion As A Writer | Write to Done

Cold with Fresh Powdery Snow

I look out my sliding glass doors and see a few inches of the white stuff. Yep! I’m talking about snow! My daughter will be so happy when she sees it’s snowed! She will want to go outside and play I’m sure.

My writing has tapered off lately. In my last post I wrote about preparing for NaNoWriMo. Well, that didn’t happen this year. Third trimester pregnancy fatigue and gall bladder attacks have plagued me. Trying to nurse my gall bladder with non fat foods and “gut rest” in which I only drink ginger ale when it acts up. Docs are hoping to limp me through the rest of the pregnancy so I can have the baby first and then have my gall bladder removed. Yippee! What fun!

I haven’t been working on a lot. Preparing the home for the baby and taking care of some clutter. But the writing desire remains strong. It’s always there whispering, “Hey, write something, will ya?” Oh, how I’d love to. Part of me is still trying to figure out just what I want to write. Do I want to write novels? Or stick with shorter works like poetry, articles, and short stories? I really have to stop and think about the time I have on my hands and I certainly don’t have time or physical stamina (right now) for writing a novel. So for now I think I’ll stick with shorter works. I’ve also been writing in my journal just trying to keep up the writing skills.

Writing time this week may be scarce as my daughter is off from school this week as well as doctor’s appointments and oh yes, preparing for Thanksgiving dinner and dessert. But I’m going to try to get a few minutes in, most every day on something even if it’s just in my journal. That’s something!

I always find this week challenging especially with NaNo. This week always was the hardest to get the word count in with so much going on. For those of you doing NaNo this year, how do you cope when your children are off school for vacation, or your schedules are hectic?

I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to comment. Have a great day!

NaNoWriMo Is Approaching! Ahhhhh! Prep time!

Wow! I can’t believe October is almost here and that means planning for November’s novel in a month. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do NaNo this year because I was already making progress on my current novel, but I figure since this will be my last chance for a NaNo for a few years, due to having a baby in February, I had better take my chance while I can.

So I have started planning out a new novel. I have had the idea for a while but it has evolved and will probably do so as I continue. I don’t have a title yet, not even a working title. But I do have the basics of the story mostly written down, and I have the first four characters named but now have to write out some description for them. I see what they look like in my head, I just have to put those descriptions on paper! lol I also have to figure out birth dates because I need this girl to be 17 but I need to know what year she will 17 and that will give me the time period I’m writing in. Always interesting to find out.

Are you a planner, or a pantser? Do you have a specific way of doing thing that helps you get through the planning process? If you’re a pantser, I’m curious to learn how manage to write a book without planning it. I have tried it and struggle with it. I’ll have a good start but then get stuck when the ideas are all written out and I have no idea where the story goes after that. Not good to have writer’s block in the middle of NaNo!

Well, I’m off for now with much planning to do. Best of luck if you have started planning your NaNo novel!

Feel free to visit my NaNo profile and become a friend on the site. We can cheer each other on.

Fear? What fear?

Alright…I have to admit fear has been a big factor and has kept me from writing my book and yes, even writing on this blog and my other blog Voice 4 Butterflies. But over the last several months, there have been some changes and I am learning to kick fear out the door and write anyway. I can’t tell you how freeing it has been.

Fear was making me think any idea I had wouldn’t be good enough, or I’d second guess the idea I had going and completely stop and go to something else. And so I would jump around to other projects and could never focus on one.

You may have noticed this in my blog posts how I’ll talk about one project, and the next post will be about something else, and the next one a totally different project. Wow! Talk about a head spin! I probably left you confused as well as myself. I’m sorry for that.

I guess it’s just part of a writer’s journey in figuring things out for herself and working through creative anxiety and learning how to squelch it and move forward regardless. I think we all have to deal with this at some point. If not, that’s great! I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. It’s tough to go through and then really focus on one project and go through it no matter the anxious thoughts one has. Do you deal with creative anxiety? If you do, how do you work through it?

For me it’s about prayer and leaving fear behind when I set out to do something. When I start to feel it I do my best not to accept it. I really had to learn that I could allow myself to feel fear, or say “No! Not today not ever again!” and move one with my project.

So…you may be wondering what project I have jumped back to this time.

I’ve gone back to working on Reflections of the Heart which was previously titled A Daughter’s Reflection. Reflections of the Heart is a tentative title. If you have forgotten what it’s about it’s okay. As much as I have probably confused everyone I don’t blame you.

Reflections of the Heart is a memoir based on my experiences and journal entries as a 17 year-old who finds out her mother has late stage ovarian cancer. The story takes you on my journey to learning the horrific news, to being my mother’s main caretaker, to losing my mother, and then trying to find my way through grief, discovering who I am, and stepping out in faith. My faith was a huge part in how I got through everything. It may be a sad story it is also an enlightening one. I have over 1400+ words done in this rewrite and that’s not counting what I wrote longhand this morning. After this post, I’ll be going back to writing. The writing bug has hit big time and I’m relying on God’s strength to help me fight any fear that may try to deter me again. With my fists up, I’m going in!

Hot, Muggy with Creative Winds of Change

It has been a roller coaster for me trying to figure out what project to work on. I constantly change my mind because something about one project (namely some nonfiction ones) I just get a bad gut feeling with. I talked with my hubby this week and told him one of the new story ideas I have going and he thought it would make a good children’s story. And he brought up the Adventure of Summer and Bun Bun series I started a few years back when my daughter was a toddler.

Children’s story!! Say what!? I must admit I was taken back by what he said. Something inside me sunk. I can’t describe exactly what that feeling was unless it was my exceptions of always writing for an adult audience. And now my focus may have to change because so many of my ideas are actually suite more for kids. Not exactly sure what age group yet. I think it varies. Instead of planting my feet and saying “No way!” and throwing those story ideas out, I have decided to at least look into writing books for children. Doesn’t hurt to look at different avenues and go on a discovery mission. Maybe there is a part of my personality that really enjoys being in the more imaginary world of children’s literature. We shall see.

Have any of you found that your expectations on what you thought you’d always write actually changed because what you were writing didn’t “belong” in that category you were shooting for? How did it make you feel? What did you do? I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments below.

Best of luck to you all!