Bre Faucheux's Blog, page 50

3. Writing Out Loud

6:00 AM – Got up

6:45 AM – Workout

8:30 AM – As some may know, I’m living at home to care for a loved one. They need help with showering and the like. So I spent an hour at home helping out.

10:00 AM – Arrived at cafe.

12:45 PM – Wrote 4,700. Finished first draft of new romance novelette.

1:00 PM – Answered emails. One asking why a whole series isn’t free. Seriously people…would you take a free sample at a restaurant then ask for the whole meal for free too? What gives? Manners people! Manners! This is a business not a free buffet.

Writing was particularly hard this morning. I could write a whole blog post on how hard it is to write romance when you are going through tough personal times. Just ugh…*groan…double groan* Not happy. But I got through it. And for some reason, my readers have liked the romance content lately. So maybe good things can come from tough times?? Here’s hoping anyway.

LUNCH BREAK

Went home feeling a bit sick for the rest of the day. Still recovering from being ill for the last few weeks. But I got my word count in, so I’m satisfied. I really wish I could have revised more of Violet Blake today, but my brain was fried. *shrug* C’est la vie.

2. Writing Out Loud

September 21, 2015

10:30 AM – Arrived at cafe for morning writing session.

For anyone wondering about this, I have a morning routine. I like my mornings the way other people like their evenings. I take them slow. I get up at 6 AM, take the dogs outside, feed them, give them fresh water, then make my morning coffee or green tea. Depending on how health conscious I’m feeling on a particular morning… Then I sit at my computer and sort through emails and catch up on a few things until 6:45. I work out at 6:45 on the dot until about 7:30-7:45. Then I make my breakfast smoothie, sip it as I fool around online until about 8:30. Then I get ready to go out. Today I did this all rather slowly. I like waiting to go out until after rush hour is over and I also like the whole process of shower/hair/makeup/whatever. I often use this time to film as well. But not this morning… just meh. So yes, my morning get-ready time resembles most people’s evening time. I do it slowly and that’s how I like it for the time being.

11:30 AM – 2,546 words written on new novelette (Don’t tell me it can’t be done).

12:00 PM – Reviewed over morning words and made notes.

LUNCH BREAK – Veggie Kimchi soup at my favorite local Chinese place. YUM! And healthy as hell.

1:00 PM – Arrived at cafe for afternoon writing session

2:30 PM – 2,818 words written on new novelette

3:00 PM – Reviewed over afternoon words and made notes for tomorrow.

3:15 – Began 2nd revision of ‘Violet Blake 5.’

4:30 PM – 11,802 words of novella revised.

Total word count for today: 5,364

Total words revised/edited: 11,803

Now, off to buy more computer paper because I need to do some hardcore proof reading revisions (even though I never catch everything because I seriously SUCK at editing). Then off to my writer’s group with a friend of mine for the evening. Which is mostly us sitting around with a few beers and french fries, talking about Harry Potter.

Toodles!

1. Writing Out Loud

Remember how I used to log my writing? Well, I was doing it once a month or something. I’ve decided that I want to log my productivity a bit better so there’s a record out there to keep me honest.

So here’s the story. I have two pen names that I’m actively writing on currently. One romance (which is anonymous, so don’t ask what it is because I won’t tell you), and the obvious one, Bre Faucheux.

This week, I want to do two things. Write another romance short story, the third in a series I’m currently working, and finish the final edits on the last Violet Blake serial novella. Then the following week, I want to write another romance, and make Violet Blake into a boxed set. And also do some newsletter stuff and get the Facebook ads up and rolling. That’s a lot. I don’t think most people even realize how much that this.

The last few weeks were rough on me, to say the least. I was extremely sick and I had personal issues that kept me from being able to work. I’m recovering now (notice I used present tense and not past because recovery it’s still a word in progress), and I really want to immerse myself into my work.

As far as videos, I want to get back into my channel and do some filming. I have some ideas, but it feels like I forgot how to ride a bike. Grabbing the camera and talking feels a little foreign to me now. But alas, I shall find a way.

It may sound corny or cheeseball, but I’ve also got three other things I’m trying to apply to my life.

This quote that I heard the Rock say in Instagram. I have it posted as a note now on my screen. It says “Always be the hardest worker in the room.” I loved that from the moment I read it, and I want to apply that to everything I do. I want to go to my writers groups and say “I did x,y and z this week.” I want to achieve word counts and goals that make others scratch their heads. Because I know I can do it.
I want to develop my meditation practice a bit better. This is something I struggle with daily. Getting yourself to sit down and do nothing is literally like trying to get a child to eat their cooked carrots for me. It’s so HARD.
Last night, as a treat to myself, I started a “Self-Love” journal. It was something I heard Kelly-Ann Maddox from ‘The Four Queens’ (who I adore on YouTube) talking about. I want to write in it as much as humanely possible for reference when I get down. And this month had downs I hadn’t experienced in years. So it’s something I really want to do for myself.

So here’s to this working for me. If you guys don’t see my daily post on what I accomplished that day or the day before that, get on me! You have my permission to harass me.

Character Flaws vs. Weaknesses

Yesterday I went had an interesting discussion with a fellow writer friend of mine. I talked about how I was reading a book called “Take Off Your Pants” by Libbie Hawker. Within the first few chapters, Libbie lays out the foundation for building a character arc and how to make an outline for a book. I am and always have been sort of anti-outlining. But I thought that any help or discussion on the topic could be potentially useful, so I picked it up thinking that there could always be something to learn.

The topic of a character flaw is very heavily discussed in the beginning of the book, and how a flaw is what makes a character sympathetic. My instant reaction to this statement was one of doubt. I have found in many instances that when a character has a fatal ‘flaw’, or the hero of a fantasy is significantly ‘flawed’, it makes me want to hurt the character more than sympathize with them. The whole fool me once, shame on me thing comes to mind. Because characters who repeatedly make the same mistakes because of a fatal flaw do nothing but irritate me.

I started to wonder if the character in my current novel has a fatal flaw. And the answer was no. But she has weaknesses. Certain things that cause her to fail. Not because she’s stupid or she has some awful personality quirk, but because she doesn’t always have things figured out. She hits road block after road block not because she is incapable of thinking, but because she is residing in a world that is constantly trying to beat her down. She refuses to give up hope, and it’s this hope that drives her to do things. It’s also what causes things to happen in the story. Because without that hope, she would give up and there would be no story. And nothing is supposedly worse than a character who doesn’t “protag”.

So here is my basic question/observation…Does a character really need a fatal flaw? Or a big flaw in general? As my writer friend said to me last night, her characters are just human. And humans make mistakes through trying and experiencing. I would like to think that I don’t have a HUGE flaw and that I just stumble occasionally. If anything, a fatal flaw makes a character a little less realistic. Because how many times can your character make the same mistakes or behave in the same way before they just become completely unsympathetic for a lack of common sense or a lack of being able to connect the dots.

My behavior/reaction caused this = (sometimes after a few tries) maybe don’t do that thing again. Otherwise I might throw a book across the room because the character is obviously not learning anything.

Food for thought.

Changes Through the Years

I got to thinking this week about how much I’ve changed in recent years. I’m not even through my twenties yet. And when I think on who I was at eighteen compared to who I am now, the changes are astronomical.

When I was in my teens, I was a carnivore, government hating, nearly male hating, academically driven, college educated young women. I wanted a career in museums. I glorified the fact that I ate meat. I hated Bush (and still do) and was really ashamed of being an American during one of the darker periods of American history. I thought that I would one day have PhD. And I was certain that I would have a thriving career ten years down the road. I would most certainly be financially independent. And I was also scared to death of men. Near the point of running away when guys hit on me. No joke. The urge to run was real.

Now…I’m vegan (98% of the time and I just made a video on my TribalFaerie channel as to why that is). I am a proud American who while not liking everything her government does…I see the good and the bad alongside one another. I no longer want a career in museums but value the education I received because it made me a disciplined, well-balanced and knowledgeable human being. I am so tired of academia that I no longer want a PhD. That might change but it’s unlikely right now. I am still living at home, but I am working hard to get my career up and running. As are many others of my current generation. Along with those of the previous generation as companies are constantly laying people off. I’m not alone in my financially insecure boat in the lake of job-uncertainty. And I recently found a man who has made me rethink everything I thought I knew about being in a relationship. Never thought I would say that. But it’s true. I am, and have been, questioning everything I thought I once knew about being with someone.

I have been caught saying things to friends very matter of factly then turning around and doing the opposite years later. I am always changing and re-evaluating my thoughts, my views, and who I am. But as far as I’m concerned, as long as I strive to be a better version than my previous self, I am on the right track to living a meaningful life.

The song by Vanessa Carlton called “I Don’t Wanna Be a Bride” comes to mind. Vanessa sang about how she never wanted to get married and she was satisfied with how her life was. Years later, she got married, moved away from New York (she still might own her NY place, I dunno), and she has a child with her husband. When it first happened, I felt a little betrayed. But now, I see why she did it. She changed. And we have to allow those changes to occur inside us with tolerance for new perspectives.

Deep for a mere blog entry, I know. But those are the thoughts going on in my brain right now.

Diary Entry to My Brain

Dear Diary/Brian/Machinery/Mother Fucking thing that only works on occasion,

I want to preface by saying that I know things haven’t been particularly easy. This year has been full of ups and downs. We have been trying to do so many things and sometimes we wake up in the middle of the night worrying about it all. Especially as of late. I haven’t really appreciated the random wake up calls in the middle of the night telling me that I need to write more than I need to sleep. Sleep is important. Let’s not lessen the value of it and its ability to help us create something from nothing.

I am writing this entry primarily to let you know that today is a good day for a day off. And I forgive you for needing a day off. In the last 10 days alone, you have helped me to write nearly 20,000 words. And that is truly amazing. Some people out there can’t write 1,000 in a single sitting. Some because they actually have lives that include marriage, kids, full time jobs.

Let’s keep in mind though that I still consider writing a job. You don’t get scott free on that one! I showed up today to do my part of the job. You didn’t. You needed a rest. And I get you. But this is a reminder that tomorrow I need you back to work with all your bells and whistles. No excuses.

With that being said, I want to highlight the fact that you have been very good to me. You have been there for me. You prevented me from over eating all the junk food the tongue was begging for when I was down and reminded me that I was trying to commit to a healthier lifestyle. You helped me to write numerous works that I didn’t know were inside me. You challenged me, and I met that challenge. Or at least I would like to think so. We work well together and I deeply value our relationship. So let’s try to remain positive for the coming days ahead. Because let’s face it. Things won’t get any easier. And a day off is always in order when you have really been getting me through the thick and the thin. So I’ll let this one slide.

Sincerely,

Bre

My Writer’s Forum Breakup

I have an on again, off again relationship with writer forums. Okay, one in particular that tends to drive me batty.

This previous week, I was having a marketing issue, which led to me asking a question on a very well known and frequently visited forum. I asked the question hoping to get some advice or maybe just hear what others do with in this particular situation. Because sometimes it is more beneficial to learn about what works for others rather than hearing what you should be doing. You can analyze things better that way.

So, I asked away. This was the first time I visited a forum in a long time. I am more of a lurker than anything else because commenting always leads to other comments on what I say. And I am very tender when it comes to writing advice. I know what works for me and what doesn’t. And I have come to the conclusion that confidence is a fragile thing that needs to be protected.

The end result wasn’t pretty. Some people were very helpful. Others chalked down my question to meaning that my books must not be doing A, B & C if X, Y, & Z is not occurring. Which…..I’m sorry, just isn’t the case. At all. What works one week in self-publishing could flounder the following. That’s just the nature of the business as I know it. So when the subject suddenly turned into what my books were about and what I was or wasn’t potentially doing right (which had nothing to do with the question I posed) I decided to leave the topic in the dust and not respond to anything anyone said. Which is sad because the topic actually got a fair bit of attention. I actually considered deleting it. And I’m still on the edge over that.

Anyway, I decided that visiting forums can do more harm than good. I am a continuous lurker, but now I don’t know for certain if I even want to do that. I asked another writer a while back and he had a similar experience. He went on the same forum to generally “share” something for the sake of sharing it. It turned into an open critique. Not appreciated by him. And I can totally and completely understand why.

So…for now, me and writing forums are on a bit of a break. Because my confidence needs some self-nurturing. Not tearing. :-P

Does anyone else have these types of experiences with writer forums???

How and Why I Became a Proud American

It’s rather a weird story. And not your average one.

I, like so many other Americans, started to feel a little out of sorts during the height of the War in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why are we there? Are we actually helping? Are we doing more harm than good? What business do we have in countries that did nothing to us? Typical questions that we still only have speculative answers to.

I don’t mean to get overly political, but these were the types of questions I asked myself as well as many others. I would watch the news and be disgusted. I thought of my own country as a big gang of bullies who told other nations how they should do things because we know better. YUCK!

Until I went to live overseas in the U.K. The English people as a whole were very nice to me. They were always accommodating and never had a bad thing to say to me simply because I’m an American. Except for one asshole in a bar who told me Americans like to start wars. Which I found more comical than offensive because he was fucking English. How many wars did they instigate? How many colonies did they conquer and terrorize for hundreds of years during the height of the British Empire? Beside the point, and back on track. The ones who really gave me problems were the other foreign students.

I told a girl from Greece that I wanted to study why education in the U.S. was faltering when it comes to teaching history. She claimed that there was no need because the rest of the world already knows that about us. AKA: Americans are universally dumb.

I told a girl from Canada that I was rather proud that our Navy Seals got Bin Laden. She claimed it was all nonsense because we “deserved what we got on 9/11.” I nearly reached for her from across the dinner table. Friends had to stop me. No really, they did.

I told a Scotsman in Edinburgh that I was carrying around my passport as identification because my Colorado ID at the time wasn’t sufficient as a way of showing my age overseas. He claimed that I was pathetic and no one wants to know that I’m an American I shouldn’t tell people. (Which almost erupted in a fist fight…again… I’m not afraid of some bulky Scotsman. Not ONE bit.)

It wasn’t until I left my country and lived overseas that I found myself constantly defending it. Not because I was a proud American at the time, but because I don’t want to listen to people who have a perception of something based on what they saw on the BBC or any other news network. Particularly because I almost went into Journalism and I know how bad those fields are at portraying anything accurately if it doesn’t please advertisers.

I have what I like to call the Brother/Sister syndrome. It applies as a metaphor for this scenario.

My brother and I don’t particularly get along. I have to hide food in my room because he will pillage it even though he didn’t buy it. I have to avoid certain topics because he is more concerned about winning a debate than actually being right. (I’m a bitch for saying it, but it’s true). Basically, we are passing ships in the night. I will call him a jerk and an asshole and he will call me a spoiled little brat. And that is how we roll most days that don’t involve a family emergency, birthdays or holidays. Those are the occasions when we are quite civil and make an extra effort to be so.

But let me tell you something… if someone ELSE outside my family calls my brother an asshole or a jerk, they better have brought some ice along with them because they’re about to get a very fat lip.

That’s how I started feeling about my country. I am allowed to point out its flaws and everything it so OBVIOUSLY needs to work on. But the second someone from another country tries telling me that my country is flawed, a bully, stupid, and overall lesser in ways they don’t understand… I WILL GIVE THEM A FAT LIP. It made angrier than anything else in the world.

In conclusion, I have grown to love my country. It’s flaws and all. Because just like everyone else, we are trying to make things better. We do well. We fail. And sometimes we fuck up beyond all recognition. But at the end of the day, I would rather be an American than any other nationality. And I think that most people feel the exact same way about their country of origin. (Maybe not, but most people I have met feel this way). And there was no other feeling in the world quite like flying home and crossing over the American border. The feeling of being “home,” doesn’t even come close to describing how overwhelmingly joyful it was to me.

The end.

Debut Novels | T5W

Hope you enjoy!

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Books I Would Want As TV Shows | T5W

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