C.A. Fonner's Blog: CROW: C.'s Ramblings On Writing

The Importance of Being Lazy

This will be extra brief as I'm on my iPad. Whenever you are able to, schedule a nothing day. No writing, work, chores, appointments, etc., etc., etc. And just watch television--but not the news. It's a day to recharge your mind, body, and even your emotions. It's the closest thing you will get to a vacation when it'll be a while until you get to have one.

Eavesdropping: A Writing Tool

Many writers, like myself, are introverts and this can weaken our dialogue writing. Use everyday tasks to listen in on conversations: getting your car serviced, picking up the dry cleaning, shopping, etc., etc. No, not all talk will be interesting; let's face it, it is only pertinent to those involved. It's to get a better grasp on inflection, tone, and other aspects of speech and human interactions. Occasionally, you will hear some very colorful people who may inspire characters big or small, just so long as they move your story forward.

Find Extraodinary In The Ordinary

Okay, it's a clichéd title for sure, but it's accurate. I came across a picture of popcorn on Pinterest with the caption "I'll never eat popcorn again." On this close-up of one particular kernel, it looked like a demon with pallid, sunken features, hollow eyes, and asymmetrical holes for a nose. For me it sparked some ideas to add to my novel that's in the cooking phase. So from now on, I'm going to "inspect" everyday items and look for characters, creatures, scenes, whatever there is to see. It's no different than finding shapes in the clouds and may be just the thing to write oneself out of a corner.

Character Quirks

Quirks humanize your characters and can connect them to the reader more or simply add much needed interest to the story. Pay attention to weird things that can be used for this purpose. For example, I bought a container of Lysol wipes but were void of wipes when I opened it. What if someone stole them? It's a weird thing to do and why would someone? Pretend it wasn't a company glitch. Also, someone tried to steal a friend's doorbell. WTF? People are super strange/crazy so anything you make up might not be too unbelievable.

NaNoWha-What?

The last couple of years I have signed up for NaNoWrMo only to fail badly--it's got to be the worst month to have a 50,000 word novel writing contest. This year is no different with a vacation, potential jury duty, and thanksgiving--the month is busy! So I'm doing what I haven't done before and planning ahead. I usually start with a what-if and roll with it--great for when there are no time constraints--however, this is a very different situation and I want to succeed with it, because it might help me turn out work faster. I'll never know unless I try, right? I have a month before the writing begins to learn who my characters are, what they desire, who's trying to stop them, what haunts them, and will they evolve from the experience or not. I don't like outlines, but I will have notes on key plot points pinned to my bulletin board, so that I can quickly refer to them and veer the story in the directions I need to. Good luck, if you too are going to attempt NaNoWrMo!

Writing On The Go

Writing on the go is not ideal, but necessary sometimes. I've read about writers who will work on their laptop as they wait--in their car--for their kids. Whatever happened to a pen and paper? I always have a pad and pen with me so that I can jot down ideas or write out a passage that comes to me. It can be added to any document later when I'm home. It's also far easier than carting around a computer. Soon enough I'll have an app on my iPad that will allow me to revise docs on the go--much easier to transport. Plus, you reduce the risk of theft. You're likely to leave the computer in the car while running errands and if your vehicle gets broken into... Anyway, something to consider.

Refresh Friday!

I believe that the state of your home reflects your mind rather than your slave to work. I've seen it posted that a writer's house "should" be messy because it shows how much they work--there simply isn't enough time to clean when writing a novel. Bull crap. For me, if my house is in disarray, then so is my mind. My work isn't as good and I'm less productive. Take a half hour or so each morning and clean up or even better, before bed so your day is more free. Make sure your workspace is organized and uncluttered. Have notes easily accessible and visible, like on a bulletin board. Don't allow clutter to accumulate and if you don't use it, need it, or want it, toss it. This will help keep your mind refreshed for producing quality work.

Identify With The Criminal

The news has endless stories of crimes and identifying with the victim comes naturally, however, doing so with the criminal can make protagonists in our stories stronger. Why did someone steal hospital equipment? Was it only greed or a desparate act? What led to their greedy nature? What led to the desperation? Humanizing them and blurring the black and white into several greys, will make any prose richer and more thoughtful. Read and listen to the reports differently. It doesn't minimize the crime, it strengthens our characterization abilities.

Melody & Mood

Music is a fantastic aid for the writer. Whether you want to get the emotions correct in a scene or details for your setting, it's a crucial component to the creation process, at least for me. Authors like Andre Dubus III, shut themselves off entirely from outside influences. If it works for them then, kudos. I just know that music taps into feelings I may not be able to reach otherwise, like a fight scene when I'm ridiculously happy.

Mix It Up

In separate containers, place small pieces of paper with nouns, actions, & places written on them. When you're stuck for something to write about, pull at least one paper out from each container. You may have: Frankenstein, bowling, and barber shop or something equally strange, but it'll get your brain thinking on how to connect them together. There are apps, such as Story Dice, that uses the same concept.