Why I'm not a fan of "writing" books.

I've been engaging in discussions lately with other writer friends in regards to books that instruct a budding author on how to write their novel. Now, before I go any further, I need to say that I have read quite a few of these "how to" and "so you wanna" style books. I've tried their methods. Some things have worked, some things haven't.

I think, though, that these books can be detrimental in a way. (I'll list some titles at the end of the ones I've found inspiring or helpful, but I don't want everyone stumbling over the name-dropping right now.) The fact remains, that while there are those of us who know how to use them, there are those of us that know absolutely nothing about how to use these books.

Where to start? There is no one "how to" writing book that is going to be the be-all and end-all of novel writing. For anyone. Out of all the books and interviews I've read about other authors, I haven't seen a word about, "Oh, well, I used this, that, and the other book, and the method was just perfect!" And I think that's something that most aspiring authors seem to be searching for. That one hand-hold that will lead them to greatness.

The sobering reality is that it doesn't exist. Trust me - I've looked, I've tried. And I'm still sitting here, mostly unpublished. (Save for some articles for Ecorazzi and a poem here and there.) It has nothing to do with a lack of dedication: The simple fact is that there is no set method for anyone when it comes to writing. Unfortunately, there are people out there who are sitting on ideas, waiting for that one book that's going to be their guiding light. And the search for that beacon becomes the very impediment to their writing.

Getting published, of course, is a whole other story, and there are plenty of books that will help you build up the connections you need, but the core - actually writing the novel - remains a mystery and is a unique process for each and every writer.

I think that's what bugs me the most about these writing books. As though there is a set method for everyone to follow in order to churn out that one novel that will get them started on being published regularly. It breaks it down and makes it as though once you've found that magic formula, it's all peas and gravy from there. Which it isn't.

The truth of it is that writing is a blood, sweat, and tears process. All the hand-holding and reading in the world isn't going to get you anywhere. You've just got to sit down and do it - figure out what works along the way.

Scar Tissue

So I just finished reading Anthony Kiedis's memoir, Scar Tissue, last night. And I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed.

I feel the need to preface the gushing that's about to follow by saying that I am not a fan of nonfiction. It's not my thing for two reasons:

1. I'm not generally interested in reading an entire book on a singular topic that's not an instructional guide. I lose interest quickly.
   
2. I'm also not a fan of reading other people wax poetic about themselves and their lives. It's just not my thing. If I wanted to do that, I'd write about my own life. (Which is perhaps what this blog is for. So thank you for taking the time to read my drivel. You're an angel.)

That said, I originally saw the book at Barnes & Noble in Reno about a month or so back. I couldn't help it - with a cover like that, how could anyone not look? So I have to confess that the fact that Anthony Kiedis is made of pure sexy had a lot to do with the purchase of the book. However, I didn't buy it at first sight. The book wooed me from afar until I had to go to Reno yet again, this time to pick up MarvMan from the airport after he'd finished schooling in Virginia.

As soon as I walked into the Barnes & Noble again, I was consumed with finding this book and buying it that day. I'd originally seen it featured upstairs and spent a good half hour searching it out before finally asking someone, "Look, I'm in a bind. I'm on a time schedule and I desperately need to find Anthony Kiedis's book, Scar Tissue. The computer search system isn't cooperating with me and I've got two small children who are unhappy. Where has it gone?" Lucky for me it wasn't sold out, it had been moved downstairs in the Rock books. Huzzah!

And still it took me a week or two more before I read it. I had two other books I was reading at the time, another of which was also nonfiction, and I was struggling. Thankfully, I finished one of the two books and cracked Scar Tissue open.

Right from the get go, I was drawn in by Kiedis's ability to make the reader feel as though you're simply having a conversation with him. At times I truly felt as though we were sitting together somewhere and I was listening to him recount his life for me. (Which, given his gorgeous voice, I really wouldn't mind if he was simply reading a grocery list.) His voice is clear, unique, and strong throughout the entire book. Kiedis is a capable and straightfoward writer - the book never loses momentum and everything is laid bare in equal detail for the reader to see. It's peppered with vulgarity, and yet it's never an unnecessary sort of vulgarity. It's not there for the sake of being shocking - many things that have happened to Kiedis are shocking enough - or being crass. It's simply that the word fits.

The most moving part of the book is his attitude toward life, and the sincerity and honesty with which he recounted his life and career with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I thought I admired and loved the band before? Even more so now. His experiences were eye-opening and the story of his life as a whole was not only touching, it was, for lack of a better word, very raw and real. I was able to relate on some levels to his struggles with addiction, having been there before myself, and despite the general obstacle of not even knowing this man, I felt empathetic toward him, finding myself laughing at some experiences and crying at others.

His reverence toward the women who have come and gone in his life is positively refreshing, and wholly unexpected given modern attitudes toward women, specifically those that populate Hollywood. The bond between Kiedis and his bandmates is clearly felt, even when retelling rough times between them. It's easy to see why the band has been one of the most influential of our time and clearly one of the most magnetic.

The back cover reads that it is "a story of dedication and debauchery, of intrigue and integrity, of recklessness and redemption." And it truly is; that and so very much more. I'm so glad I followed that sudden compulsion and picked up this book - I'm certain I'll be reading it again in the future.

Surfacing for air!

Hello, world. Welcome to my writing cave.

Oh my gosh! I've been so thrilled the past few days. I've been writing! Well, okay, more like I've been plotting and fleshing out characters and just yesterday began to actually write, but it's been so soul healing. I'd fallen off the path of writing every day: Life became hectic, I grew busy with other things, specifically school work. But I'm back in the swing and I couldn't be happier.

It certainly was like riding a bike. I'm grateful for the short stories the characters are inspiring me with in order to get to know them better while I plot out the larger project. I can tell that I'm rusty, and I know there are things that need working on, but I am on a regular schedule again. It's been so helpful for my mood - I've been practically giddy with any progress I get done on a daily basis, and right now, the creative mojo has been flowing like no other!

So if I drop off the radar every so often, it's because I've been kidnapped by my characters. Hit me up via the various methods of contact found on the blog and I'll confirm my not yet vegetative state. I think there will be more writing related content coming up. I'd love some discussion regarding character creation.

But for now, I've got to get a shower!
xoxo

Lost but not gone

At least I hope. No, never you fear, I haven't lost a person. [prayers and positive vibes for my Gram and Grandma, of course] I believe I mentioned previously about Kaylee's hard drive frying out. [Kaylee's my Mac Mini.] Total user error and the amazing people at Apple hooked me up and fixed her in no time at all. I've got her back and have been happily enjoying Leopard and all the other perks of being a Mac user / owner all over again.

Well, there's an ironic twist to the entire tale. For those who may not know me, I love to write. It's something I hope to make a career out of. It's a passion that has not died since the day I won my first poetry contest in the fourth grade. In fact, that accomplishment and the blue ribbon that accompanied it only served to further my dream that one day, I would be a writer who was actually paid for her work.

Fast forward to Kaylee frying out. Trust me, there's not much interesting writing wise in between then and now, save for a few glorious escapades in fan fiction, and a few aborted novel manuscripts. The interesting twist of irony in this entire tale is that when Kaylee fried, I was actually attempting a backup of sorts. Going through, cleaning off the hard drive and backing up the important files. What didn't get backed up before she died on me?

You got it. My writing folder. Everything I had ever written or worked on in the last six months (or in some cases, in a year) is gone. Gone, gone, gone. Everything. However... thanks to my fabulous sister, Jess, I am taking this in stride.

Today I embarked upon a cleaning of the desk, to involve a ritual to cleanse the desk, and Kayles, of any negative energy, essentially turning my desk into a workspace of positivity and creativity.

See? It's working already - I'm blogging!

I needed a win

So I decided to blog. If I accomplish nothing else today, it shall be this.

I never dreamed attempting to juggle college and parenting would be such a challenge. I thought I had it handled, I thought, "Hey, this is a breeze. I can totally do this." Apparently not so much.

College in and of itself is deceiving, though. They toss you these easy courses, supposedly with the attempt of "easing" you into it. Lies, all of them. Things are easy, one settles into the routine that comes with the easy courses and then - BAM! Eight page research paper coupled with in-depth discussion posts on plagiarism that need to amount to essays in and of themselves, what it is, and the avoidance thereof.

I think this is the third class in which I've had to discuss plagiarism. How difficult a concept is it? I struggle with ensuring everything is cited properly, but I think given that we're all in college, we would know what plagiarism is and the consequences thereof.

Regardless, for this current class, it all boils down to a research paper. An eight. Page. Research. Paper. How insane. I love the research part. Digging up information isn't the problem. It's connecting the dots and writing a piece of non-fiction that someone else has dictated I must write that I seem to have a problem with. It would be so much easier if this paper would simply write itself.

All My Twitter Friends

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