Rani Divine's Blog, page 14

It's Necessary

Hi everyone, and welcome to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped by.
All month long, I’m taking some time to talk about 2018, in a way I’ve never done before. I’m determined to help us close out this year properly, to usher in 2019 in the best way possible. Why? Because I have some things to say, and I think some of you really ought to hear them. Because I care about you, and I want to take some time to tell you these things.
#2: Your writing is necessary
I mean that. It is. You, whoever you are, have a writing that is necessary, in this world. Your writing is different from everyone else’s. Your writing is unique, and it is a beautiful part of this world. If you didn’t write, this world would be missing a voice. Your voice. And that would be a very sad thing, indeed.
This, I think, is one of the most important things I can tell you, my writer friends. And that’s why I wanted to do this early on in the series.
I know that for some of you, a new year means a new opportunity for writing, a new year in which to explore new realms of fiction. But for others, it means a chance to step back, to quietly back down, to disappear.
My words, today, are for all of you.
Your writing, whether you’re a published author with a huge following or a basement writer who’s only been read by the closest of friends, is necessary.
If someone has read it, then it’s touched someone. Then it meant something to them. Bear in mind, of course, that if you wrote it, you read it along the way. It touched you. It meant something to you. And that’s enough reason not to let it slip away into the shadows.
Your writing, my dear writer, is necessary.
No one could write those words the way you do. No one has the same ideas as you. No one shares your imagination. No one sees things the same way as you. No one could write the same things you do, the same way you do.
That alone, makes your writing necessary.
It makes your writing mean something, even if only to you.
Whether you’re overjoyed about the work you did this year, the time you spent on your writing and the results you’ve gotten, the feedback you’ve received from your biggest fans, or you’re saddened by the fact that you barely had time to write, that you didn’t write like you should’ve done, I want you to know that the words you write are necessary, meaningful, and important.
Even if you’re the only one who ever reads them. (because even professional authors have words they only write for themselves)
Your writing is necessary. The world needs your voice. Whether that world is contained in the mind of a single person, or in the minds of millions.
You, dear writer, dear friend, are necessary.
[love]
{Rani Divine}

You Did Well

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped by. :)
This month, as with every month, we’re starting a new series. And this month, I wanted to do something I’m pretty sure I’ve never done before. I want to talk about this year. I want to spend the entire month of December talking about 2018, and ushering in 2019. Why? Because I have some things to say, which I think a lot of you might really need to hear.
As we close out the year, remember…
#1: You did well this year
Even if you feel like you didn’t.
I wanted to start out with this one, because at the end of the year we tend to look back at our year and think of all the things we could’ve (or should’ve) done differently. We look back and sigh, thinking of what our year could’ve been, if we’d made different choices, if we’d turned left instead of right, if we’d taken that vacation instead of staying home to work (or vice versa). And for that, I thought we ought to take some time to remember there’s no point in could’ve/would’ve/should’ve.
Absolutely no point.
So as we close out this year, I want you to look back on your year. I want you to take a good hard look at 2018, and focus on the good that happened.
Think about the times with your friends. The laughter you shared with others. The lives you spent time with. The smiles that made your heart melt. The times you purposefully snuck up behind the person you love and startled them so bad they peed their pants. (not sayin' I did this, but, you know...)
Think about the good things, and let them be enough to drown out the bad. You did well this year, remember? You had a good year. Some good things happened to you. So focus on those.
You had some triumphs, this year. Some successes. Some moments of glory.
Those are the things that 2018 should remind you of, when you look back on it. Those are the things you want to keep in mind.
This was a good year, if you think about it right.
And that’s what I’m asking you to do. To remember. 2018 was a good year. You did well this year. And you’ll look back on it and smile.
Do that every year, and your every January will be better than the one before.
[love]
{Rani Divine}

No Web

Hi everyone! Welcome back to Too Many Books To Count! As we close out our series, I’m especially glad you stopped by. All month long, we’ve been discussing the myriad methods I use to get myself into the writing zone, and I think we’ve been having some fun along the way. We’ve discussed what to listen to and what not to listen to, how to make sure we don’t get distracted by our cell phones, and getting comfy to ensure no body parts fall asleep while we’re working.
So what’s left?
The one none of us like to talk about, and most of us just can’t bring ourselves to do.
#7: Turn off the internet
I don’t mean completely, of course. I don’t mean to completely cut internet and no longer have it. I mean that while you’re writing, you shouldn’t be on the internet. At least, not until you can discipline yourself well enough to not use it while you’re writing.
For most of us, we don’t need it. Not really. We try to tell ourselves that we do, that it’s incredibly important that we have the internet in case we need it to research something, to answer some burning question we must understand right now. Truth is, we don’t need it. We should’ve done our research ahead of time. That question can be answered later. And it’s better that we not let ourselves be distracted, than that we get everything right in the first draft.
I’ll admit, wholeheartedly, that this method is only for first drafts. After that, yeah, I understand. We do need the internet. We do need to be checking our work, making sure we did everything right. And the internet is supremely helpful in that regard. So I’m not saying that you should never use the internet while you’re writing, but that you should turn it off while you’re working on your first draft—because those drafts are hard enough, without the constant distractions of the interweb.
If you’re like me, and you write on a laptop, then it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy. Just push that little button that turns off your wireless connection, and you’re good to go. If you’re on a desktop, you’ll have to do a little more finagling. But you can do it. It can be done. And it won’t be detrimental to anything. In fact, you might find it to be something like a sigh of relief.
Not having the internet, after all, means that we don’t have the thing that makes a lot of us stress day in and day out. Without it, you might find you think clearer. In fact, I’m fairly certain you will.
And that’s why it’s good to do without it, at least while you’re working on that first draft.
[love]
{Rani Divine}

Put it down

Hey guys! Welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped by. The time has come, and we’ve reached the last week in our November series… But before we get into that, let me say how excited I am to hear how many of you are done (or nearly done) with your NaNoWriMo projects! It’s a huge accomplishment, and you should be proud. Seriously. Even I’ve never done it. I mean, I haven’t tried, but still. ;-)
All month long, I’ve been telling you guys some of the ways that I get myself in the zone for my writing. It’s all been about finding the right things to listen to, the right location, and even the right position, to make sure we stay in the zone and can write to our heart’s content. And this week, I have two of the most important ones.
#6: Put the phone away
I know how difficult this is to do. Believe me. In fact, most of the time I really hate doing it. I like to have my phone on me, I like to be able to contact people. I like to be able to distract myself with it, if I want to.
But that’s exactly why it needs to be put away, during writing time. At least until you’re highly disciplined with it, and can force yourself not to pick it up every time you want to.
Especially with the onslaught of smart phones, it’s increasingly difficult to set them down and do what needs to be done. There’re games on there! There’s texting. There’s internet. There’s fun stuff to do—most of which, if we’re being honest, could also be done from your computer, and on a bigger screen. But that’s neither here nor there.
Thing is, when it’s writing time, we can’t afford the distraction. It’s better for us to focus, to keep our minds on the task at hand, especially during writing time. For most of us, it takes a lot of concentration to be able to get those words on the page. The last thing we need is a cell phone distracting us from getting those words down. Especially during a month like this.
As we get deeper into the holidays, this point becomes even more important. There are already a million distractions, all around you. Now the holidays are there too, nagging, constantly reminding that you now have holiday things you need to do, on top of everything else.
That phone is just one more thing you don’t need to have in your way.
So put it down. Turn it off, if you have to. At the very least, leave it in a room where you’re not, so it can’t do as much harm.
It’ll help, once you get used to it. At first, it might be a little weird not having that little device in your pocket. You'll get used to it though. Promise.
[love]
{Rani Divine}

Happy Day

Hey guys! Welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped by, especially on a day like today.
Today, as I hope you all know (if you’re in the States, at least), is Thanksgiving.
It’s a day when we spend time with our family and friends, usually indulging in an exorbitant meal that contains far too many calories, and usually forgetting what the point of the holiday is supposed to be.
It’s not called turkey day, guys. It’s called Thanksgiving.
So, today, I wanted to take the time to say thank you, to all of you. Thank you for sticking around, for hanging out, for having fun and following me through my little writerly career. Thank you for reading. Thank you for being you.
I know that for a lot of us, the holidays aren’t a very exciting time. They’re a sad time, or a lonely time, or a time we’d rather not focus on. I think that accounts for a large portion of why there’s a push back against the holidays these days, and a focus on the minor holidays that come before the major ones. But I want you to know that you’re loved, you’re appreciated, and that I’m glad you’re around.
I’m thankful for you.
True, I might not even know your name. True, I’ve probably never looked you in the eye. True, we may never actually meet in person.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t be thankful for you, nor does it mean I can’t be praying for you as we get full swing into the holiday season.
And I am. I’m praying for you. Each and every one of you.
I’m praying that you close out 2018 in the best way possible, and that 2019 will be the best year ever. I’m praying peace for each of you, as we enter one of the most hectic times of the year. And I’m thanking God for each and every one of you.
Because you’re awesome.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
[love]
{Rani Divine}

Chill

Hey guys! Welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped by again, during such a busy week. I think you’ll like what I have to say, today.
All month long, since it’s NaNoWriMo, we’re talking about ways that I’ve gotten myself into the writing zone, to make sure I keep writing, no matter what. We’ve talked about things like ASMR and soundtracks, to help get our minds in the zone, and we’ve discussed the pros and cons behind the television, when we’re trying to write. But today, because it’s such a busy week, I thought I’d talk about one of my favorite methods.
#5: Get Comfy
Of course, you don’t want to get too comfy, but please, get comfy.
It’s one of the biggest pros of being a writer, in general. We work from home. Nobody sees us. We can be in our jammies all day, and no one is ever the wiser. (it’s the same for editors, if they let you work at home ;-))
And it’s also one of the things I’m highly inclined to use, when it comes to getting myself in the zone.
But how do we do this? I know, after all, that it’s not always so easy.
First thing’s first:
Clothing Put on something that isn’t restrictive. I don’t recommend jeans, when you’re trying to write. I don’t know what it is, but I swear they’re not conducive to getting those creative juices flowing. If you want to get a mass of words out today, I highly recommend putting on some comfy clothes. Whether that’s your jammies, a pair of sweats, or a bath robe—that’s entirely up to you. But get yourself comfy, so there won’t be any distractions from the articles of clothing adorning you.
Second thing’s second:
Space It’s easier to write in some places than it is in others. It also entirely depends on the writer, as to what places are easier or harder. So you’ll have to do some experimentation, in order to figure this one out. For me, I write best in one of two places. Either a classroom (which, I know, prohibits the comfy clothes option) or my bedroom (perfect for comfy clothes). I don’t know what it is, but sometimes a lecture is just what I need, to get those juices flowing. Find a place that’s not going to distract you, a place that will lend itself to getting those words on the page. Props if your space allows you to be comfy as well!
Third thing’s third:
Position Do not—I repeat, do not—make yourself into a pretzel while you’re writing. The last thing you need is both feet falling asleep while you’re trying to write. Don’t do it. Make sure you’re in a position where your blood is freely flowing, where nothing’s going to distract you and tear you away from your work to fix what you shouldn’t have done to yourself. Don’t hold your neck at a weird angle, either. And if you haven’t already, figure out something to block the blue light from your computer screen. It’ll make things easier on your eyes, which makes it easier to stay in that nice, comfy position.
See why it’s one of my favorite topics? See?!
The hardest part is making sure you’re not so comfy that you fall asleep. Balance is the key. But isn’t it always? ;-)
[love]
{Rani Divine}

Power On

Hey guys, and welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped in to see what we’re chatting about today. If you read Tuesdays post, you’ll probably find this one amusing.
See, all month long we’re talking about ways to get in the zone with your writing. Ways to stop yourself from being distracted. Ways to keep yourself writing and prevent yourself from doing whatever else. So, so far, we’ve started listening to ASMR videos, we’ve found the soundtracks to our writing, and we’ve turned the television off.
Now, let’s turn it back on.
#4: Watch Something You’ve Seen a Million Times
I know, I know, I literally just told you to turn the thing off. But there are some times when we really need it on. And I know that a lot of you will actually disagree with me here, but if you do, then that’s okay. This post probably isn’t for you.
Some of us, me included, occasionally write better when we have something on in the background—as long as that something is something we’ve seen a million times before, and therefore don’t have to pay attention to.
For me, this is one of two things. Stargate or The Village. Why? Because I’ve seen them a lot, I love them, but I don’t have to pay attention to know what’s going on in that story. Which means I can do my own thing while it’s on, and it’s not a big deal.
I’m honestly not sure why this works, or what it is about just having something on in the background, but for some of us, at certain times, it’s just amazing.
There are times, especially when I’ve been insanely busy and have been pounding out more words than usual, that I just need to have a little bit of a distraction, but one I know I can ignore in a couple minutes. In those times, if I put Stargate on, I know there will be times when I want to look up and see what’s going on, to be a part of this specific scene, but that in two more minutes I can look back at my work and get back to it.
It’s brilliant. It’s amazing. And especially during NaNoWriMo, I think it might be extremely helpful for all of you.
So try it out. But only if you’re the type of person who can handle a little bit of a distraction, because, if you’re not, this will only make your life more difficult.
Trust me. I know. Because I’m both kinds of people. Yep.
[love]
{Rani Divine}

Into Oblivion

Hey guys, and welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped by. :)
All month long, since it’s NaNoWriMo, we’re talking about ways to get in the zone and get that writing done. You know, so you’ll actually have a shot at writing 50,000 words in a month (which, by the way, I used to do every month, which explains why I've never actually participated in NaNoWriMo). Since I write a lot, and I have many methods in making sure I get my writing time in, I thought this might be a useful series for you all.
Thus far, we’ve talked about watching or listening to ASMR videos online, and listening to epic (or soundtrack) music as the score to your writing. Today, I’ll accent that a bit.
#3: Turn off the TV
No, really. Turn it off. Right now. Go do it. You don’t need the TV on while you’re writing.
Know why?
Because the human brain is wired to look at whatever is moving. If there’s a bug crawling around on the wall, your eyes will gravitate toward it as the thing that’s moving around. The same concept applies to the television, which is why so many people get completely glued to the thing.
Most of us really can’t get enough writing done if the TV is on, because instead of writing, we’re staring at the television. That’s not okay. So, right now, get up and turn that television off. Yeah, it might annoy the rest of your family. That’s okay, they can be annoyed at you for a month. 
If the television is on, your ASMR and your soundtracks won't be able to help you. 
Thing is, especially during novel writing month, you can’t afford to be distracted. That's why I picked out some things for you to listen to, to help you stay in the zone once you get there. But really, you can’t afford to be distracted anyway. This is your writing time, time when you’re not supposed to be watching TV or staring into oblivion, but writing.
So, why is the TV on anyway?
I know, I know, it’s an automatic response for most of us. We hit a certain time of day, and we reach for the remote. But if we’re going to be more productive, if we’re going to get all our words in for the day, it really is better if we change some of those habits.
It’s time to turn off the television and write.
If you want to get serious about writing, then get serious. Turn the TV off. Get rid of the distractions and thrive in the things that get you into the zone. Allow yourself to freely write and explore in the new world you’re creating.
That, my friends, is one of the most important things you can do this month.
[love]
{Rani Divine}

Two Steps to the Future

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you’re back, here to check out the next in my ways of getting myself in the writing zone.
It’s NaNoWriMo this month, which means a ton of writers are sitting down and forcing themselves to knock out a 50,000 word book in a month that also happens to contain a pretty big holiday (if you're in the States, that is). It’s hard. It’s not something I’ve participated it. But that doesn’t mean I can’t give you some pointers for getting yourself in the zone—whether you’re writing a book this month or just writing like you usually do.
#2: Epic Music
To be more specific, Two Steps from Hell and Future World Music, because they’re my favorites and I love them.
While Tuesday was all about finding a background that helps you focus and get yourself into the zone, today is all about finding the soundtrack to what you’re writing—which is why I’ve chosen two different artists for you to check out.
For me, writing is really easy, especially if I can find music that perfectly matches the scenes I’m working on at the moment. Which is nowhere near as easy as it sounds, let me tell you.
I need epic music, music with no English lyrics or no lyrics at all, and music that flows like the score to my favorite films. Which is why I always recommend epic music, because it is, essentially, soundtrack music. It’s really trailer music, or rather, it’s a lot of the music you’ll hear in the previews for movies and television shows.
And a lot of it is absolutely amazing, and available online. Two Steps even has a lot of their albums available for listening on YouTube, if you don’t feel like purchasing that much music. Me, I love them so much that I don’t even bother to sample the music before I but their albums anymore. Whatever Two Steps releases, you better know I own it.
I’ve digressed.
See, for me, epic music is the soundtrack to what I’m writing right now. Because of that, I’m better able to visualize what I’m writing, which helps immensely in writing it down and making sure my readers see things the same way I do. I don’t want anyone to be in the dark about what I’m writing, what I’m seeing when I write. Epic music helps with that.
The two artists I’ve given you, Two Steps from Hell and Future World Music, are the two that I listen to the most.
If you’re wanting to write something epic, something fantasy, something very deep within this genre, I’d highly recommend Two Steps from Hell's repertoire.
If, however, you’re writing a space opera, something very sci-fi, very techy, or very introspective, you need to check out Future World Music's latest albums.
Different artists work better for different moods, different stories, and different genres. Obviously, I can’t tell you what to listen to while you’re writing an Amish romance, because I don't write Amish romance, but I can tell you what I know.
These two artists don’t disappoint. Ever.
[love]
{Rani Divine}

Autonomous

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Too Many Books to Count! I’m glad you stopped by, especially as we’re starting our November series today.
This month, being NaNoWriMo, I thought you might enjoy if I spent some time talking about the ways I get myself into the zone for my writing. As you all know, I write a lot. And I do mean a lot. My novels tend to be right around 200,000 words, and I can knock a novel out in around six months. That’s a lot of writing. Especially while I’m editing two or three other books at the same time. I’m a busy girl.
But, because NaNoWriMo is all about making sure we find time to write and stick to it, I thought it’d be a good time to share some of the ways I do that (in no particular order).
#1: ASMR Videos
I think I’ve talked to you guys about ASMR before, but I’m also pretty sure that it’s been a while. I don’t talk about it a whole lot, because there’s this weird stigma against it, and a lot of people who think ASMR is extremely sexual.
Let me tell you right now: it’s not as weird as you think it is, and it doesn’t have to be sexual at all. I greatly prefer if it isn’t sexual. I don’t like sexual. It makes me blush, and then I can’t write.
Anyway.
It stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (which pretty much tells you absolutely nothing about it), and it’s linked to that tingly feeling you get in the back of your head in certain comforting circumstances. Which is why it can be really nice when you sit down to write.
It can also be highly distracting, especially for people like me, so you have to find the right balance.
Anyway, it’s that feeling of comfort and relaxation that a lot of people got when they watched Bob Ross, back in the day. And he’s actually still pretty nice to listen to while you’re doing stuff.
It’s all about finding a background noise that helps you focus, that keeps you in the zone. And there are a lot of great ASMR videos on YouTube that really help me when I sit down to write (or even edit). Usually, they’re soft spoken videos, sometimes tutorials, but they’re always very chill, very soothing, and very helpful for getting me in the zone for anything that isn’t a super dramatic scene. Yeah, don’t listen to ASMR while trying to be dramatic. It doesn’t really work. At all.
I do highly recommend it, whether you use it to get in the zone for your writing, or to get out of the zone once you’re done and have to be a normal human being again. It’s great for both!
And if you’re interested and want to check it out, here’re a few artists I think you should look up:
GentleWhispering ASMR
GibiASMRLauraLemureX ASMRArticulate Design ASMR
And, the very best out there if you’re wanting some highly immersive fantasy-genre roleplays: Goodnight Moon
Happy listening, and happy writing, my friends!
[love]{Rani Divine}