Mandi Bean's Blog, page 7

“You see, I’m all about those words…”

I LOVE dystopian literature, and two of my all-time favorite works of the genre are Brave New World (everyone needs to read that book!!!) and 1984. In George Orwell’s novel 1984, I remember being fascinated by the notion that reducing language reduced thought, which in turn expanded the corrupt government’s ability to control its citizens. Words are needed for expression, and when thoughts and emotions cannot be expressed the words do not exist, it creates a limited, inhibited existence.

I’ve been thinking about that profound truth ever since a former colleague sent me this article from The Guardian. Granted the article is not so morose as the opening of my post, but author Paul Anthony Jones does write about the passion he feels for language and how that passion can be shared. He writes:

From my perspective, as a writer keen to expound my love of language, offering up a juicy linguistic morsel, like hogamadog, is a great way, too, of piquing a reader’s interest, and using it as a gateway to explain some wonderful etymological connection, or some complex linguistic phenomenon, that might otherwise be too dry or obscure to be appreciated out of context.

Paul Anthony Jones, “Flapdoodler, roorback, yulehole: Why forgotten words need rescuing from obscurity”

Language is a universal element of all cultures. It is an integral and invaluable tool of communication, which human beings need to do in order to survive, let alone thrive. Communication leads to connection, which leads to an infinite number of reasons worth staying alive for. For me as a writer, language is especially important because it’s how we tell our stories. And as author Margaret Atwood says:

Storytelling is not a luxury to humanity; it’s almost as necessary as bread. We cannot imagine ourselves without it, because the self is a story.

Margaret Atwood

Language is essential to communication and expression, which are themselves essential to the survival of the human race. Orwell understood this and explores this notion in his dystopian masterpiece, 1984. We should all pay closer attention when words are added or removed from use because those changes in language and changes in the way we are able to think and express those thoughts.

The post “You see, I’m all about those words…” appeared first on mandi bean: writer.

The End of NaNoWriMo

Woman crossing the finish line

Sorry I missed last week; with Thanksgiving fast approaching, time got away from me and I’m still trying to catch up. But I am super proud to announce that I wrote every single day this month except for one. I might not have been as diligent with updating my daily word count as I would have liked, but I successfully completed NaNoWriMo 2022!

And to celebrate that accomplishment, I’m going to share some of what I’ve been working on this month. I didn’t finish the manuscript like I originally wanted, but because of all the progress I’ve made this month, I feel confident I can have a first draft finished by the end of the year and can send a manuscript I feel good about to agents in 2023.

So enjoy and please, if you take the time to read it which I appreciate more than I can ever properly communicate, please comment or reach out and let me know what you think. Getting as many eyes on my writing is simply invaluable.

Happy Writer Wednesday! And enjoy

Duke had never heard it called a “repast,” but he knew it was customary for loved ones to gather for a meal after a funeral. All the mourners had gathered at the local banquet hall, the only one in town, for a buffet lunch. He sat on a thin black chair with a flat cushion. Everything in the room seemed dark. The carpet was forest green but made him think of vomit more than anything else. The thick, scratchy curtains hanging in front of the windows were the same shade. They’d been pulled close because there was nothing to see outside except a parking lot and a gray winter sky. It was so fucking depressing. The lights were on, but the light was weak.

Aurora had gotten up at some point and returned with a plate full of catered food: penne in watery vodka sauce that stained the white plate pink, salad with the stinging smell of the vinaigrette dressing, and chicken in golden brown breading that slid off the minute anyone tried to cut into it. It made him sick, the whole thing. Uncle Rick deserved a better send off.

Aurora held his hand underneath the table. She gave it a gentle squeeze every now and then, and she’d softly whisper, “Eat.” He nodded, but that was it. To eat, he’d have to let go of her hand, and that would leave him completely untethered. He couldn’t do that, couldn’t bear that, so he just stared at the plate. It was better than looking at the stupid, sad, pitying faces of the mourners who filed past on the way to the buffet line. He couldn’t stand looking at them looking at him with pity or condemnation or disappointment.

He remembered Aurora handling all that. She’d responded in soft tones, thanking and consoling. He didn’t really hear her words, but the tone, the melody of her voice, came through loud and clear. It washed over him and that was all he wanted and needed.

He leaned closer to her and put his mouth against her ear to whisper, “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

She turned to him with worry and concern. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Seriously?” It was a stupid question.

Aurora knew it and flashed a small smile.

“I can’t take any more of this,” he admitted. His voice cracked at the end and his whole body was threatening to collapse in on itself. He didn’t want to break in front of these random people who knew and loved Uncle Rick but had never fucking bothered to get to know Duke, his adopted son. He took a deep breath. “Leave with me,” he begged, hating the way his voice echoed in his ears, so weak and pathetic.

“Okay,” Aurora said. “Let me just give the card to Eric so he can pay and square things up at the end.”

“I’ll be outside,” he said. He stood up and left Aurora before she could leave him at the table. He snatched his coat from the back of his chair without slowing and knocked the stupid thing over. He could almost hear the eyes of everyone sliding in their sockets to get a good look at the fuck-up about to go to pieces. They were craving a scene. His skin was hot but his face suddenly cooled and he was terrified he was going to puke in front of all those looky-loos, those awful spectators. He staggered to the exit and nearly fell through the heavy double doors. But once he was outside, he breathed in deep. The winter air was so sharp and cold, and he was gulping it down, walking in mindless circles just outside the doors.

“Duke,” Aurora said. Her voice, that beautiful melody, brought him back to the moment. Her brown eyes were wide. “You don’t look so good. Do you want me to take you home?”

He shook his head. “Come with me.” He held out his hand to her.

Even with the skepticism clear as day on her face, she took slow steps towards him. Her high heels clicked loudly against the pavement and the sound echoed in the winter air. “Are you okay to drive?”

“Yes, of course,” he said as he rushed forward to grab her hand. “Let’s go to the beach.”

“The beach? Duke, it’s freezing.” She was only pointing out the obvious. It wasn’t a refusal. She’d never refuse him anything.

“Please, Aurora.” He held her hand in his against his chest. “You don’t have to get out. You can stay in the car.”

“I’m not going to leave you alone,” she said. “Let’s go.”

The silence that followed the closing of the car doors was heavy. The air was different in the confined space, and he had trouble moving it through his lungs in its thickness. He could feel Aurora’s eyes on him and he knew that she was watching and waiting for him to explode. He knew her well enough to know she’d breathe easier if he screamed or cried or punched the dashboard. Normally, he would do all of those things, but he was too tired and too empty to do anything other than breathe, and even that was taking more energy than it should.

She didn’t say anything, just shifted the car into reverse. The pair was on its way. The music was loud and the wind roared through the window Duke had opened as he smoked cigarette after cigarette all the way down to the filter. He watched Aurora struggle to keep her long, wavy hair behind her ears. She pulled strands from her eyelashes and from the corners of her lips, but she never opened her mouth to complain and she never asked him to close his window.

He looked at the burning cigarette currently between his fingers and seriously considered holding it to his palm until the skin there burned as punishment for all the ways he tested Aurora’s patience.

She parked Duke’s truck at the far end of the boardwalk, way away from the crowded bars and overpriced shops. She killed the engine and he was out of the car before she could even turn to him, let alone say anything. He crossed the boards and paused once he hit the sand to remove his dress shoes and expensive socks, and he left them in a haphazard pile. He trekked onward, toward the water, unbuckling and yanking his belt free. He let it fall where it may and as he strolled, his undid his pants, let them fall around his ankles, and stepped out of them. She was shouting behind him, but he didn’t turn around. He unbuttoned his jacket and shimmied out of it as he marched ever closer to the water, and he did the same with his dress shirt after he pulled the tie loose, tore it off, and threw it away from him. He reached behind him to grab a handful of his undershirt and he pulled it up and over his head, stepping over it as it fell to the sand. All he had left before becoming naked was his underwear, and he’d discard those once his feet hit the hard packed sand that marked the shoreline.

Naked, he ran into the churning waters. When it was deep enough to dive, he did exactly that. He swam a couple yards from the shore and couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so peaceful. Everything around him seemed crisp and bright, no longer dulled by drugs or pain or expectations. He just had to hold his breath and kick his legs and use his arms to push and pull his way through the water. All of a sudden, it made perfect sense to him that water was essential for the survival for all known forms of life even though it had no calories or nutrients, because it had something else. If he had been smarter, like Aurora, he would have thought of words like salvation and redemption. But Duke’s head was clear when it broke the surface, and that was good enough for him. He looked back at the shore and saw Aurora scrambling to collect his clothes.

“Leave them,” he yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Come on in! The water’s great!”

“It’ll get ruined! It’s your only suit!”

“Fuck it,” Duke yelled. Aurora didn’t stop or slow, and Duke realized there was only one thing to be done. He swam back to the shore as fast as he could and ran onto the sand, rushing towards Aurora. He picked her up in his arms and swung her up over his shoulder. He hurried back to the water.

“Duke, stop!” Aurora pleaded. “It’s too cold and this dress was expensive!”

Duke did stop and set Aurora on the sand in front of him. “It’s not that cold,” he said. He was smiling and breathless. “Take it off.”

Aurora’s face burned. “Excuse me?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What’s gotten into you?” She seemed unsure, but she was smiling, so Duke decided to press his luck.

“Take off your dress and come swimming with me.”

Aurora suddenly spun away from Duke. “Christ, Duke, you’re naked.”

“Come swimming with me,” he said. The salt water dripped from his hair into his eyes. He dragged his hands along his face to dry it and waved the excess water toward Aurora. “Take off your dress and come swimming.”

“Duke,” Aurora groaned. “This isn’t normal.”

“Fuck normal,” Duke laughed. “Either come in of your own accord, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder.”

Slowly, she turned back around to face him. “This is really what you want? To go swimming?”

He reached for her hand. He held it and steadied his gaze. “Yes. Please, Aurora. You know how much I love the ocean. This shouldn’t be that big of a surprise.”

She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought for a moment. “Alright,” she finally relented. “Turn around and start heading for the water.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want you to see me naked.”

Duke rolled his eyes and released her hand. “Oh, come–”

“It’s not negotiable.”

He stepped closer and reached around to the back of Aurora’s dress. He found the zipper and pulled it slowly but steadily, listening to her quick and shallow breaths.

She caught the dress before it could fall. “Duke,” she said in a trembling voice. “I’m right behind you, I promise. Just start going.”

He did as she asked but only after planting a quick, soft kiss on her lips.

He stood waist deep in the cold water, waiting to hear splashing nearby so he could turn and welcome Aurora. But she never did anything like he imagined she would, and her entrance into the water was soundless. She startled him when she spoke from somewhere close behind him. “This is insane.”

He spun to face her. She was trying to hide herself underneath her arms. He waded over and gently laid his hands on her arms covered in goosebumps. “What poet wrote that people were never ever going to survive unless they got a little crazy?”

She snorted. “That’s a Seal song.”

As she smiled, he pulled her arms away. He pulled her closer to him, deeper into the water. “You’re amazing, Aurora.”

She shook her head and averted her gaze. “You don’t have to say that, Duke.”

“I know I don’t,” he said. “I wanted to say that so I did.”

The conversation was moving into uncomfortable territory. It was an odd situation, a weird place to try and right all the hurtful wrongs of the past, but Duke always felt most at home and most at peace near the sea. That had never been true for Aurora, and though the water gently urged her in his direction, she stood her ground. “You’re upset, Duke. Let’s get you home and get you dry.”

“You hate the water.”

“No, I don’t. We’ve just left a funeral and it’s freezing. I’m tired and cranky.”

“Would you look at me, please?”

She raised her eyes to his. He wanted to tell her so many things. And he probably should have because that likely would have changed what came next. But he just gave her a quick kiss on the lips and said, “Okay, we can go now.”

Back in the truck, he was shivering so hard his teeth were clacking together. He tried to gulp the noise to muffle it so Aurora wouldn’t freak out and tell him again how stupid he was for swimming in the ocean in March. But she was grabbing blankets from the back seat and wrapping him in them.

“I didn’t even know those were in here,” he said.

“Lucky us. Maybe it’s a sign we were supposed to go to the beach,” she grinned. She wrapped one around herself and then asked, “So where to?”

“Don’t take me home,” he blurted out. “I can’t go there.”

“Okay, okay,” she soothed. She thought for a moment. “We can go to my house.”

“Your parents aren’t there, are they?”

“No,” she said, rolling her eyes. “They’re visiting my older sister in Virginia. She likes you, if that helps.”

“Yeah, but she’s not in the state.”

“You just can never win, can you?” she teased. He turned the radio up and the conversation stopped. They rode in silence to her house.

When they pulled into her driveway, neither of them moved to exit the car right away. She turned in the seat to fully face him. “How are you feeling?”

He looked down at his hands. “I don’t know.”

She nodded. That was the only movement.

“You wanna just sit here?”

He nodded.

It was a minute before Duke started sobbing. Aurora gathered him to her arms, shushing him and smoothing his hair. He leaned into the embrace.

Please comment and let me know what you think!

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Yes, I’m still writing about NaNoWriMo.

Get used to it.

I feel like I’ve been repeating myself on this blog A LOT lately. This is my third post dedicated to NaNoWriMo and this will be the millionth time I lament about not having enough time to write and struggling to maintain a writing schedule and blah, blah, blah. I don’t want to be all gloom and doom because the truth of the matter is that I am getting writing done. And it’s okay if it’s not as much as I planned because I’m hopeful there’ll be days in the future I can sit down for an absolute writing marathon (like maybe the weekend?). Lately, I’ve just been writing in small spurts like sprints. Last night, I only wrote 300 words (which I probably won’t even use) but I’m proud I’ve written something every day this month.

And I’ve really been enjoying participating in #instawrimo. Here’s where I’m at so far:

Day 9 of #instawrimo: Novel Dedication

Day 10 of #instawrimo: The World of Your Novel…

When it comes to the settings of my novels, I definitely write what I know. I’m always using real locations to inspire my fictional ones. LIGHTNING STRIKES, for example, takes place in a town based on Ocean Gate, New Jersey. The Salty Dog, where Aurora works, is basically The Anchor Inn.

Day 11 of #instawrimo: Favorite Writing Quote

Day 12 of #instawrimo: MC’s Dream Vacation

Duke’s dream vacation would be camping in Maine with Aurora. The woman he loves in one of the most beautiful places in the country where he can get away from everything is his ideal.

Day 13 of #instawrimo: Map (Any Kind!)

This is a map from 2019 of Total Lightning (Strokes and Cloud) Density in the United States. Did you know Florida gets the most lightning strikes of any state?

Day 14 of #instawrimo: Writing Soundtrack — Typically, I’ll just have my entire library on shuffle while writing, but as luck would have it, I am building a specific playlist for LIGHTNING STRIKES.

Day15 of #instawrimo: Favorite Pen (or Pencil)

I bought this pen at Strand Book Store on Broadway in New York City years ago. It actually came in a set of three and they were all celestially decorated and wrote GORGEOUSLY. When my niece lost one, I panicked and searched all over the internet for where I could order more. You can buy them here.

Day 16: Favorite Notebook(s)

This is tough because I’ll honestly write on anything, but … LOOK AT HOW GORGEOUS THIS ONE IS! And the pages are lined You can buy it here.

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How I’m Participating in NaNoWriMo

I don’t know about you, but I’m LOVING NaNoWriMo 2022! So far, I’ve written 9,999 words! And looking at that number, I cannot believe I didn’t have one more word to make it 10,000. I think that sums up A LOT about my writing life and my personality.

I’ve also been participating in #instawrimo , which is an Instagram-based challenge related to NaNoWriMo. Each day, you post something related to NaNoWriMo. I’ll share mine below:

Day 1: Novel Title
My novel title for my current work-in-progress is: Lightning Strikes!

Day #2: Author Photo

This is my original author photo taken by a colleague and wonderful writer

Day #3: Notes!

I can’t tell you how many of these legal pads I have filled with scenes, plot points, research about sleepwalking, auto mechanics, anger management, etc. You can buy these pastel-colored legal pads on Amazon.

Day #4: Current Read

Everyone’s been raving about this book lately, probably because the sequel just came out. My friends and I started a book club to read this and it’s very entertaining so far. I’m only about ten chapters in, so I’m not offering up a review of any kind, but I will say I’m excited to keep reading.

Day #5: Cast Your MC(s)

My main character in Lightning Strikes, John Wayne Winters, was totally inspired by Eric Balfour as Duke Crocker on “Haven;” I even lifted the name (his friends call him “Duke” lol). His physicality and the way he played a troubled soul with hope was captivating. And the coolest part? Eric Balfour himself liked my Instagram post!

Day #6: Cast Your Villain

The villain in my newest novel, Ryan, is smug and arrogant and just the worst–like James Spader in “Pretty in Pink.”

Day #7: Cover Reveal

In a perfect world, my novel Lightning Strikes would be completed and published (with a lucrative deal) and THIS would be the cover.

Day #8: NaNoSwag

Alas, I do not own any NaNo Swag, but I want to! And there’s plenty to choose from. If I achieve my word count goal, you better believe I’ll be buying some mugs and that journal!

Day #9: Novel Dedication

Both of my sisters have answered so many questions to help me flesh out scenes and characters, and my niece is just a constant inspiration.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? Comment and let me know!

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NaNoWriMo!

It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here!

I’ve been looking forward to NaNoWriMo so I could finally institute a writing schedule, which is something I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time now. I’m still working at it, and that’s fine because it’s only the second day, but my writing schedule is more irregular than it is anything else.

Yesterday, I wrote at school but today I’m trying to write at home. I wrote just over 2,000 words yesterday but as of right now, I have under 1,000 words today. Consistency is the goal, so I’m going to try another writing burst before I log my totals on the NaNoWriMo website.

Add me as a writing buddy! My username is mandi_bean!

I know I had grandiose plans of showing you my writing space and sharing easy recipes, but my writing space is not set up (and changes constantly) and I’ve been ordering out for d a y s, which is as expensive as it is unhealthy.

Luckily, it’s only day 2…plenty of time to perfect the habit.

Let me know how you’re doing!

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How to Prepare for NaNoWriMo

The next time I update this blog, it’ll be November. More specifically, it’ll be two days into NaNoWriMo, a writer’s favorite time of year I plan on going hard this year and invite anyone who reads this blog to join me!

The Checklist

NaNoWriMo has been pushing material to help you plan and get started, and now that it’s coming down to the wire, they’ve released a checklist. Some of the best ideas include planning your meals by the week and grabbing all the non-perishable items before the month starts, deep cleaning now, and designating a writing space for yourself.

Stock up on writing fuel! Consider planning out your meals by week or by month and buying all your non-perishable groceries in one big trip.Bookmark a few quick and easy recipes (crock pots are your friend!), or consider making and freezing meals ahead of time.Deep clean the spaces you’re responsible for (whether that’s your house, your room, or even just your computer files) before the month begins.If you have any big work/school items due in November, see if you can extend the deadline or get as much as possible done in October.Designate a special writing place for yourself. Try not to make it the same place you do work or chores; but if it is, how can you make it special for writing? (i.e a candle, a picture, certain music. Whatever helps you feel creative!)Make a “Do Not Disturb” sign, or choose some other obvious signal (a hat? headphones?) to let the people around you know they should leave you alone.Inform your friends and family that you’ll be writing this month. Tell them how important it is to you and let them know you might have to prioritize writing over socializing.Ask someone if they’ll be your accountability buddy. They don’t have to read your writing, but even just a “Hey, have you written yet today?” text can help keep you on track.

And they have space on the checklist for you to add your own action items. I’ll be sharing some of my easy writer meals and some pictures of my writing setup. I’m so excited to get started!

The Quiz

The website also offers a quiz to help you design your writing schedule for the month. My result was:

Time is your friend.

For one reason or another, you’re able to dedicate a lot of time to your creative writing right now. That’s awesome! But fair warning: this can be a double-edged sword. Your first step is to structure that time.

Reserve two blocks of focused writing time during your day: i.e., an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, or two hours in the morning and an hour in the evening. Choose blocks of time during which you know it’s unlikely for you to be interrupted and likely for you to be able to focus.

If you use a calendar app, block out your proposed writing times now. If you don’t use a calendar app, set a recurring alarm for the start of both your writing blocks.

The Structure: Two blocks of uninterrupted writing time a day.The Goal: 1,667 words a day if you’re writing 50,000 words.Try This: Use the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of writing, followed by a 5-minute break, then repeat.

I’m also excited to share that I’ve completed my plot outline for my NaNoWriMo work-in-progress! It was so helpful to sit down and work on it because I know I need to add scenes. I’m currently revising my index cards so I know where the scenes go.

Add Me on nanowrimo!

Let’s be writing buddies! Let me know your NaNoWriMo plans!

The post How to Prepare for NaNoWriMo appeared first on mandi bean: writer.

How to be Happy

Honest confession: I caught myself S P I R A L I N G this week. My anxiety and a feeling of being overwhelmed transformed into self-hatred. I felt so defeated and helpless. I scheduled a therapy appointment and then started journaling, and I did begin to feel better. Being proactive definitely helped, but I really to stop (or at least slow) my depression before it threatens to paralyze me.

I went to Google and I *literally* typed in “how to be happy.” I actually found a fantastic article from Healthline.com by Ann Pietrangelo that offers practical habits you can start implementing RIGHT NOW to improve your mental health! It’s not for a major lifestyle overhaul; just a “few tweaks to your regular habits.” There are daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tips for boosting your seratonin and being happier.

What really struck me, though, was the realization that my anxiety and depression were worsened by the absence of these practices; I’m not taking care of myself. That’s not good, but that means by just starting to take care of myself, I am doing something about the insecurities and negative self-talk. My emotions don’t have to ambush my rational, logical thoughts or stifle my creativity and productivity. I already wrote an extensive blog post about the link between creativity and mental health.

Regardless of your version of true happiness, living a happier, more satisfied life is within reach. A few tweaks to your regular habits can help you get there.

Ann Pietrangelo

DAILY HABITSSmile
Did you know that smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, which makes us happier? I didn’t and to be honest, I’m skeptical about that being a foolproof way to be happier. But that notion is supported by the “facial feedback hypothesis”: facial expressions may have a modest effect on emotions. I’m going to try smiling at myself in the mirror every morning.Exercise
UGH. I KNOW. I’ve been trying desperately to get back into an exercise routine. “Regular exercise can help reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and symptoms of depression while boosting self-esteem and happiness. Even a small amount of physical activity can make a difference.” I’m going to take a walk around the block every night after dinner, start incorporating yoga into my daily schedule, and start my days with five minutes of stretching.Get plenty of sleep
This is what I struggle with the most. Adults on average should get at least seven hours of sleep at night. AND I KNOW I’m not hitting that mark. Luckily, the article has some great tips:
– track sleep! Use an app or a journal and write down how many hours of sleep you got and how rested you feel.
– go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
– reserve the hour before bed to relax and avoid heavy drinking and eating.
– keep your bedroom dark and cool and quiet.
– invest in good bedding.
– limit naps to 20 minutes.
But if none of these tips work, you should see a doctor. This may be where I’m at, unfortunately. I haven’t had good sleep in a long, long time.Eat with mood in mind
For me, this was the coolest part of the article!
– Carbohydrates release seratonin, but keep foods high in sugar and starch (simple carbs) to a minimum because the energy surge they provide is short and you’ll crash. Vegetables, beans, and whole grains (complex carbs) are better.
– Protein-rich foods like lean meat, poultry, legumes, and dairy can boost energy and concentration because they release dopamine and norepinephrine.
– Omega-3 fatty acids, like those in fatty fish, can have anti-inflammatory effects that extend to overall brain health.
– HIGHLY PROCESSED OR DEEP-FRIED FOODS TEND TO LEAVE YOU FEELING DOWN AND SO WILL SKIPPING MEALS. Unfortunately, this has been my modus operandi as of late. The article recommends starting small, making one food choice for mood a day and then adding in a new one each week. That seems doable.Practice gratitude
I have been doing this ever since Maddie didn’t die. That’s a HUGE thing to be grateful for, but we can start with the small stuff, too. I’m grateful for the way the moonlight shines on the water and for nights when I can sleep with the windows open. For example Give a compliment
This makes perfect sense to me. Just imagine how you feel receiving compliments. A couple of coworkers complimented on my new style since returning from Ireland, and it’s emboldened me to make fun fashion choices. I will pay it forward, for sure.Breathe deeply
This seems like a wonderful place to start. This has been a big part of my new novel, as well. My protagonist suffers from anger issues and uses breathing techniques to calm down.Acknowledge unhappy moments
But let them pass. I like to wallow, but I need to stop doing that.KEEP A JOURNAL!!!
I have been doing this for years and cannot recommend it enough.Face stress head-on
Some people claim they do their best work when they procrastinate. I am not one of those people. I need to do this more often; face the inevitable and plan instead of panic.AVOID COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS
– Name your inner critic so those negative thoughts can detach from you and belong to someone else.
– Be your own best friend
– Keep a record of your achievements
– Practice self-care
– BE PROACTIVEWEEKLY HABITSDeclutter
Just 15 minutes a day of tidying up a specific area and a 5 minute walkthrough can help prevent anxiety caused by mess. My car needs to be cleaned and my rental could be tidied up. I need to do that soon.See friends
I want to do this more often.Plan your week
I LOVE PLANNERS! I use them all the time.DITCH YOUR PHONE!!!
Since the pandemic, I’ve become grossly dependent on my phone. I scroll for hours, mindless, and I get nothing done. And social media makes anxiety and depression so much worse.GET INTO NATURE!!!
I’m going hiking as soon as my schedule allows.Meditation
I purchased the Calm app before Maddie’s accident so I’ve understandably fallen out of using it regularly. I was doing the meditation course and should try to get back into using it.Therapy
I scheduled my first appointment. I’ve had a rough two years and instead of burdening loved ones or trying to soldier on alone, I’m going to get professional help.Self-care ritual
On Sunday nights, I used to give myself a manicure and pedicure and a green tea facial. I stopped doing a lot of these things and taking care of myself but it’s time to do it again.MONTHLY HABITSGive backTake yourself out
Spend time alone deliberately; I take myself to the movies. I also like eating pancakes at the diner.Make a thought list
Write and memorialize the positive thoughts.YEARLY HABITSReflect
Make an honest inventory of your life.Reevaluate your goals
Do I get my doctorate? Do I buy a house? Do I publish a third book?TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY!!!Let go of grudges
I just did this today, and I’m telling you, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted.Plan a trip
I’m going to Ireland in January … but then what?

Reading the article, I learned taking care of my physical health will automatically improve my mental health, so being happier is not an overwhelming, impossible task.

Are you happy? Are you going to try any of these tips? Let me know in the comments!

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How to Plot a Novel (Or Not)

Currently, the major goal of my writing life is to finish a draft of my third novel, tentatively titled Lightning Strikes. To do that, I need to develop and stick to a writing schedule, and I know I’ve talked about that at nauseum.

Luckily for me, NaNoWriMo is “write” around the corner (haha, get it?). NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month and it takes place every November. There’s plenty of information on the website as well as tools to prepare and participate in the event. I cannot recommend this website enough especially if, like me, you’re struggling to develop a writing schedule.

In the past, I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo here and there, but this time around, I want to be seriously dedicated and finish my work in progress. The website offers weekly tips and tools throughout October to be ready to hit the ground writing (see what I did there?) in November. In what I’m taking to be as an epically positive sign from the universe, this week’s information is focused on how to Construct a Detailed Plot or Outline, which is exactly where I am in my work in progress.

I have about half of it written, but want to make sure the scenes I have done connect in a coherent and engaging way, and that they lead me to the climax of my story seamlessly. I have index cards with scenes on them that I can move around, and I have a running list of scenes, which might be all the planning I need. But the website offers a fun, quick quiz to help you determine what kind of plotter you are.

A Pantser, A Plotter, Or A Plantser http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w27/chihhang/RelatedImages.jpg

In the writing world, there are three kinds of planners. Pantsers are the type of writers who like to fly by the seat of their pants and write without a roadmap. Stephen King (my idol) once said his story ideas were strings he’d simply follow into dark holes. I’m not really like that; scenes comes together for me organically, like once I sit and get going, I can write it out. But whole stories have never fallen into my lap. I need to have some kind of direction before I sit down at my writing desk.

So then there are plotters, which are the type of writers who meticulously plan and outline their stories before they begin writing. This is more my speed, but let it be clear that I would never ever use the word meticulous to describe my outlining. I think of my plot outline as a living, breathing document capable of growth and change. I don’t like to be caged in any way while writing. I have a destination in mind, but how I get there is completely up to me.

Finally, there are plantsers, which are writers in between the two categories and that’s where I fall. Knowing what works best for you and embracing it, instead of trying to do what other novelists do (because there’s no one way to be a writer, which is as freeing as it is frustrating) can decrease anxiety and increase focus, which really ramps up productivity and creativity. So take the quiz and comment with your plotting style!

Pick the Plot For You

Based on your results from the quiz, you can pick between several different plot templates: The “Jot, Bin, Pants” Method, The Plot Rollercoaster (I use this one with my Creative Writing students; a little simplistic but great for visual learners, I think), The 9-Step Plot Dot, The Save the Cat! Beat Sheet, and Katytastic’s 3 Act/9 Block/27 Chapter Outline. Based on my quiz results, it was recommended that I use The 9-Step Plot Dot.

That template basically prompts the writer to develop the major plot points in conjunction with The Hero’s Journey. I like it, especially since I want my audience to sympathize with Duke and consider him the hero of the story (tragic though he may be). But I also think I’m farther along in my the plotting process and using this template would really just have me repeating work.

What I’m struggling with right now is flashbacks. There are important events that happen outside my narrative, that happen before my work in progress’s opening scene. They’re crucial to character development and theme development, but I don’t want to use too many of them as that can muddy a story. So what’s a writer to do?

Dos and Don’ts of Backstory

Again, in a serendipitous turn of events, Writer’s Digest sent out an email highlighting this article, “12 Dos and Don’ts of Revealing Critical Backstory in a Novel” by Jenna Kernan. The best-selling author breaks down how to “reveal the past for the biggest punch in the present.” She came up with six Dos and six Don’ts to help guide writers along this somewhat treacherous and tricky path.

Don’t relate more than the briefest backstory in the first chapter.
I honestly think I have my first chapter written and I’m proud of myself; there’s only two lines that hint at backstory. That early in the narrative, I just want to hook and tease my readers to get them to keep turning pages. I will admit that in chapter two, there is a flashback.Do avoid dropping a block of backstory as introspection, where the protagonist is deep in thought.
I was guilty of this. In a very early draft of the opening scene, I had Duke just sitting on the beach and thinking about his life. This is an easy, albeit lazy, way of including backstory. The goal should always be to engage and entertain the reader, but I also think just getting it down is important, too. Maybe use introspection to flesh out the backstory for yourself, and then revise it to make it more for the reader than the writer.Don’t forget that introspection is only one way to introduce backstory.
This is so hard for me to remember, honestly.Do use actions to present core beliefs forged in the past.
This is an invaluable tip for determining what backstory to include and what to leave out. I’ve been able to narrow down my backstory points to only three: when Duke is struck by lightning, when Uncle Rick dies, when Duke gets in the car accident.Don’t skimp on the use of discourse to reveal backstory.
This has been really freeing for me. Having characters tell their own stories through dialogue really helps to create a feeling of intimacy among the reader and the characters. My two previous novels have been more genre fiction, but this story has more weight to it, so I need my readers to care deeply and intimately know these characters, so using discourse has been really helpful for working towards that goal. Do show a character holds a certain mistaken core belief because of a past trauma or life-shaping event.
This is why including Duke’s car accident is so important. That adds more to his characterization more so than anything else in his past, including the lightning strike.Don’t make the backstory more compelling than the forward story.
Lightning strikes, car accidents, funerals…this tip might be harder to follow than I realize. Do consider using a flashback for a longer backstory incident which relates to the forward narrative.
I think the backstory points I mentioned earlier will all be flashbacks because they are long and can organically come from the forward narrative. That being said, I might have to rework how Duke’s lightning strike is revealed and place it at a different point in the narrative.Don’t create details which do not affect the narrative or aren’t needed to understand the story or your protagonist’s motivations or beliefs.
I was gutted when Professor Sarah Moore Fitzgerald suggested I remove the detail that Duke wears a vial of sea salt around his neck. I thought it could be a MacGuffin and I was attached to it because it was one of the first things I decided about Duke. If I do put it back in, it would affect the narrative in some way. Hmm…Do relate backstory naturally, avoiding contrived reveals.
This is my fear about the way I reveal the lightning strike. Duke’s working in his garage and finds some reminders of that day. It seems a little clunky and, originally, I had him relate the events to Aurora, his best friend, but I also feel like she would already know that. I think the only reason I haven’t finished my plot is because of little questions like these that might force scenes to be rearranged.Don’t let anyone tell you backstory shouldn’t be in your story.
Enough said.Just be conscientious.
Kit de Waal told me that even thinking about these things makes me a better writer. I scoffed at first, but I really do think it’s true. Just being mindful of elements of the craft puts a writer ahead of the curve.October to November

My goal is to have my plot mostly finalized by Halloween and dive into NaNoWriMo on November 1st. I want to finish my work in progress, so I have a goal of 50,000 words for the month. It’s a lofty goal, sure, but I’m excited to get started.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? Comment below and let me know!

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How to Write With a Full-Time Job

Busy, busy, busy.

One of my biggest fears coming back from Ireland was that I would not be able to maintain a writing schedule. In Ireland, I truly had all the time in the world to just sit and think about my work in progress AND to work on it. It was a dream come true, but it had to end once I returned to the States and to teaching.

One of my lecturers told me it would be nearly impossible to write and teach because teaching requires so much energy. That’s undoubtedly true. Most days, when I finally get home, I am absolutely drained. It’s all I can do to sit on the couch and stare into space.

But another one of my lecturers told me that even if he made enough money to write full-time (and most writers don’t), he wouldn’t give up teaching. He loved the social interaction and stimulation. And that made sense to me, too. My students challenge me, but they also make me laugh and help me to be more empathetic and patient. They’re inspirations and I honestly love teaching. I can’t see myself giving up.

So…to quote the American poet Hannah Montana, how can I get the best of both worlds? How can I teach and finish my third novel?

Jean Hannah Edelstein to the Rescue Jean Hannah Edelstein is the author of  This Really Isn’t About You , which was published by Picador UK in 2018, and longlisted for the 2019 Wellcome Book Prize. She also writes marketing emails for tech companies, so you’ve probably deleted her work. She lives in Brooklyn.

I was lucky enough to stumble upon an article by Jean Hannah Edelstein entitled, “How to Write a Book With a Full-Time Job,” published by The Creative Independent. She lists eight steps for writing a book with a full-time job, most of which are incredibly helps.

Find an achievable day job.
So I goofed on the first step.

When Edelstein writes “achievable day job,” she means “a job you can complete well within official working hours. A job that is interesting enough and that you can be good at, but not a job that you need to be too good at—because that’s when it may start eating away at the time and energy you need to write.” My contractual day runs from 6:55 am to 1:38 pm Mondays and Fridays, and from 6:55 am to 2:25 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. My day should end well before evening, thereby giving me p l e n t y of time to write. However, I am drained, sapped of my creative energy.

I would never intentionally give anything less than 100% for my students. That sounds corny but it’s true. I have students who graduated years ago who send the occasional email asking for proofreading help and I never say no. I love my students and I know I sign up for being their teacher for life. I’d honestly be unhappy if I did any other way, even this year, when I have the most challenging group of students I’ve ever had in my entire career.

But if I could master step 2, I think I’d be in good shape…Learn not to raise your hand.
I have such a hard time saying no.

Edelstein gets it: “Our current work culture tells us that we should always be working harder, faster, and stronger, but this is a great route to burnout.” Boundaries are healthy. I told myself flying back from Limerick that I would limit my extracurricular activity to starting a creative writing club at school. I envisioned working my contractual hours and then saying no.

But here I am, part of Students Government Association. I don’t regret that decision, but I can easily see how it’s eating into my writing time and energy. I’m an advisor for the Junior Class, who have prom this year, so I can’t dial it in and leave the students hanging. But that means it’s more of a priority than my writing and that creative writing club.Set yourself up with a realistic writing project.
Edelstein writes that your project shouldn’t require so much research that it never gets off the ground. I don’t necessarily agree; I think as long as the project makes you excited, it’s good to work with.

I do agree with her important statement concerning a realistic writing project: “don’t write a book because you think you’ll be able to quit your day job when you publish it.” Financial success is a bonus and not everyone hits the mark, but that’s more than okay. First and foremost, you should be writing because you love it.Think and write everywhere, whenever you can.
Honestly, this step solves every problem.

I have a notebook I carry around. And a legal pad. And a laptop. Whenever there’s downtime, I’m writing. And I’m just going to straight quote Edelstein here: “And, look, I’m not going to tell you to work on your book when you’re on the clock at your achievable job, but I’m not going to tell you not to do that, either. It’s your life! It’s really very convenient how Google Docs means that you can have your creative work available whenever you’re at a laptop, or even on your phone, with a bit of downtime. Any time you find yourself thinking about your book, take that as a sign that your brain feels invested in writing and leverage it: pull that phone or laptop out and write.”Find friends at your achievable job who are interested in your book project.
Support at work has never been a problem. I never considered not going back because the support system for my creative endeavors and throughout my personal tragedy was unwavering and invaluable. So many colleagues bought my latest book and ask about what I’m working on.

Finding your tribe is critical, regardless of whether it has to do with writing or not. All of us deserve to be surrounded by people who take a genuine interest in our passions. Enough said.Find a writing group.
I’ve been trying to get one off the ground at work, but it’s proving difficult because of demanding schedules.

I’m so thankful I’ve been keeping up with my writing group from Ireland. We Zoom every other Sunday and are always emailing scenes and excerpts for feedback. I love them and miss them, and can’t wait to see them in person in January for conferment.Set short-term goals.
Edelstein writes, “Or as I like to say: write in chunks. Sitting down to write a whole book is frankly terrifying….” The MFA got me in the habit of writing in 3,000-word chunks, and that’s been easy for me to maintain.

I also work on specific scenes rather than entire plot. I have the scenes written on index cards and I color code them once the scene is written. IT’s working out really well for me.Go on a DIY writing retreat.
I’ve already written an entire blog post about this. And getting away rests the soul, mind, and body. It’s recommended whether or not writing is involved.

I hope you found this list useful, especially if you’re struggling to carve out a writing schedule to live your best–and most productive–writing life.

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How to be an Authentic Artist (Be Like Bowie)

David Bowie: Rock God

Ok. So. Funny story.

I haven’t updated this blog in two weeks. Originally, my plan was to update last week with an amazing post focused on writing and move away from posts about My Chemical Romance and how they’re the greatest band in the world and how much much I love Gerard Way, blah, blah, blah.

But on September 20th, I saw My Chemical Romance again, but this time, it was in Newark, New Jersey. It was a homecoming show and the setlist was insane. They played “Vampires Will Never Hurt You” and “Demolition Lovers,” which they haven’t played in over 20 years! I was obsessed as ever, and then two days later, I saw “David Bowie: Moonage Daydream” in IMAX in Eatontown.

Trailer for “David Bowie: Moonage Daydream”

And it hit me.

There would be no Gerard Way or Brandon Flowers or Lady Gaga or Madonna without Bowie. His androgyny and creativity and showmanship and artistry created the foundations for performers as we know them today. Bowie was a wonder and a marvel and an enigma, but he was also undoubtedly gifted. A. O. Scott from the New York Times writes that “Appearing onstage in dresses, flowing suits and shiny space gear, he undid gender conventions with insouciant ease. He changed his look and his sound from one album to the next, leading critics to question his authenticity and interviewers to wonder about his true self.” So how could any biopic really do Bowie justice? Currently, the film holds 91% among critics and 82% among audience members on Rotten Tomatoes.

In his review of “David Bowie: Moonage Daydream,” Carl Wilson writes, “There was…more creativity in an average hour of early 1980s music videos, especially from the new wave, punk, and synth bands. Most of those acts were heavily influenced by the previous decade of work by David Bowie, who retroactively became a watchword for me as for so many other misfits and ravagingly curious art nerds in the past half-century, including a whole new younger cohort since his death in 2016” (read it here). I’ve often asserted that the 1980s were the best decade for music, and Wilson touches on several reasons why I think so, but most importantly, Wilson acknowledges that it has everything to do with David Bowie.

Bowie as Ziggy Stardust

Wilson didn’t particularly care for “David Bowie: Moonage Daydream” because he felt it didn’t delve enough into Bowie’s writing life. He paraphrased from Macbeth and said it was full of “…sound and color, but signifying nothing.” He wanted a more direct and obvious approach to Bowie as a creator. It seems he would have preferred more footage of Bowie composing, of Bowie in the studio, of Bowie working. But I feel like Bowie’s process was covered in two other outstanding documentaries about David Bowie:

Trailer for the documentary “Five Years” on Amazon PrimeTrailer for the documentary “The Last Five Years” on HBO Max.

Those documentaries delve more explicitly into how Bowie created his art, but the little snippets we do get of Bowie discussing his process in “Moonage Daydream” are invaluable. Jem Aswad writes, “Filled with reflective statements like ‘When you feel comfortable with yourself, you can no longer write’ and pensive footage of Bowie walking, painting and posing artfully as well as performing, ‘Moonage Daydream’ is the first graduate school-level music documentary — it omits the basics and glories in the details, which actually gives the film a greater authority” (read it here) As A. O. Scott for the New York Times observes, “His explanations of changes in style and genre are illuminating, and illustrated by shrewd musical selections. You don’t hear all the obvious hits — where was ‘Young Americans’? — but you do get a sense of his range and inventiveness, and a taste of some less-well-remembered songs. I was glad to be reminded of the anthemic ‘Rock ’n’ Roll With Me.'” Some of the standouts from the film, for me, are Bowie talking about writing lyrics and then cutting them up into individual lines and rearranging them for something new, something better (possibly). He also talked about not playing the same note for 50 seconds and changing rhythms to melodies and vice versa because, according to Scott, “…his creative life was a series of experiments in an impressive variety of media.”

So maybe the film doesn’t get into the “how” of Bowie’s work because to do so would be a Herculean task. Bowie wrote and recorded music, made films, created sculptures and paintings, performed in plays, and danced. Instead of showcasing the process, the film delves into the product of Bowie’s art, which absolutely contained multitudes. He was immensely talented across all different mediums. Scott writes, “Instead of plodding through the chronology of Bowie’s life and career, Morgen conjures the singer’s presence through an artful collage of concert footage and other archival material, including feature films and music videos” (read it here).

The biopic is not traditional in its structure, but it feels like something Bowie himself would have made and enjoyed. According to Scott, “Though Morgen bends and twists the timeline when it suits him, he traces an arc from the early ’70s into the ’90s, beginning in the Ziggy Stardust years and immersing the audience in Bowie’s otherworldly charisma at that moment. His bright orange hair, his brilliantly inventive fashion sense, his frank bisexuality and his almost casual mastery of divergent musical idioms made him an irresistible puzzle for the media and an idol to the restless and curious young.”

Bowie was, and remains, a musical icon and genius: plain and simple. His talent is obvious in his lasting impression and influence, but in his performances as well. I listened to isolated vocal tracks and discovered that his most intimate instrument was put to flawless, innovative use time and time again.

So what are Bowie’s rules for writing? It boils down to one, all-encompassing guideline:

NEVER GET COMFORTABLE.

“I’ve had an incredible life — I’d love to do it again.”

David Bowie

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