So yet again the Angel of Death has visited my family. This time he took my Grandma, my mom’s mom. I must say I’m handling this way better then I did my dad. A few tears this morning when I was telling my friend that she had passed. She died of natural causes. We think she knew the end was coming, she had recently been talking about grave plots and insurance things these last few months.

We also think she was sicker than she was letting on and that she just didn’t want to tell anyone to burden them. We’ll never know for sure. The funeral is going to be sometime next week.

Now I’ve got two guardian angels looking after me.

And I’m so far behind…gah! I have no one to blame but myself. I have started, in fact the first day started off really well I got over the recommended daily goal. But then the second day came and I had to go to class and I just got sidetracked. And then yesterday I got my first shipment of Netflix videos and I just had to watch them. I’m on a two week trail so I have to send those back to determine if I get the other videos fast enough to warrant me getting the service. I promise this weekend I’m going to sit down and write like there’s no time left. I just have to do it.

So far the plot stinks, the characters are defined and the conflict is lost. But hey I never promised myself it was going to be a good story. Just something I can work on in December to make it better. If it works out like I hope than I might try doing this more often. Taking a month to write a story and then working on it for a month.

I did decide to go with Snow Black and I’ve got a short description up on my NaNo profile. Right now I’ve got to do some boring things…like go grocery shopping. Then I’m coming back and I’m going to do some writing. Might not be a lot but it will be something, gosh darn it.

One week before NaNo starts…seven days…168 hours (give or take)…jeez where did October go? I’ve got to get cracking. Let’s see I did change stories. My new story is based on the Snow White fairy tale, sort of. It’s because they’ve been playing those stupid commercials about the remastering of the Disney version, and so of course I can’t get them out of my head. The thing is I don’t actually like Disney’s Snow White. I have nothing against the story in general other than it’s not a very interesting story. I know there will be tons of people out there ready to disagree with me but I don’t care that’s how i feel so =P.

The basics of my story is that there is an old woman who recently lost her grandson to suicide. She blames his old girlfriend and the man who got him fired. She plans on avenging his death by evoking dark powers, she poisons the girlfriend and leaves her in the man’s office in order to set him up. But a janitor finds her and manages to successively revive her. That’s when the man comes back to his office. The woman doesn’t remember anything and now fears for her life. Annnnnddd that’s all you get XD. Right now I’m calling is Snow Black but I will most likely change it.

I’m really excited about the story and ready to get started. I’ve set up a makeshift desk in the corner of my bedroom. I’ve still got to work on my scheduling of time spent. I’m going to do that tonight. I have this major research paper due towards the end of November. It’s going to involve me observing people so I have to make sure I work in enough time to do that.

Well I’ve got to do some cleaning, talk to you another time.

I’m changing stories. I can’t help it I just am. I’m just not ready to work on Mistaken Identity. In fact I’m just gonna wing it. Well sort of. I know the general idea of what I want to work on. I’m just not gonna do any planning out cause then I’ll get bogged down and that’s bad. I want it to flow naturally I work better when I just write. That’s normally how I can get through a one shot in a weekend. Since this is going to be a non-stop marathon, I just don’t know how to go about do this.

I don’t know how this is all going to play out. I went through my writing series and while they are good tips. They aren’t for quick planning, they are meant to help those who are doing so long term planning. Maybe those who are stuck mid writing. This is going to be a good experience for the series. I just need to get back into the grove of writing.

Maybe I’ll start on the writing series.

]]> http://feedingtheneedtowrite.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/its-official/feed/ 0 Juni Lyn http://feedingtheneedtowrite.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/mistaken-identity/ http://feedingtheneedtowrite.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/mistaken-identity/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:41:45 +0000 Juni Lyn http://feedingtheneedtowrite.wordpress.com/?p=131 ]]>

I haven’t written in a long time that I think I might be rusty. I just can’t seem to commit. I wanted to finish some writing things before the beginning of November. But I haven’t even looked at that stuff. I’m on fall break this week so maybe something will happen. I’ve been thinking about Mistaken Identity for my NaNo novel, and there might be a bit of a problem. I just think it will be the best choice to for a full length novel. The more I think about the story the more I worry that there’s just not enough conflict to carry it. And if I try to force it, it’ll become another DYTCiYC. And I’ll give up on it halfway through.

But if I change stories I’ll have to redo all the planning that I’ve done so far. The character interviews, the setting researching, the brainstorming, all that would have to be done again. Granted I still plan on writing Mistaken Identity at another time.So it’s not in vain, but the time wasted is huge. I still have three weeks before November gets here, but I’ve got some projects due in that time.

I guess I need to do some more thinking about it. Work on the plot some. There are other things I can do before November. Like work on my writing play list. I use to just have a series of movies I would watch while writing, or if there was a marathon of a favorite tv show I would watch that. Anything that I’ve seen before so I would be less inclined to get sucked in. I’m going to go for half and half. Also need to figure out where I’m going to do my writing. I don’t have a desk at the moment. I know where I’m going to put it once I have it but I probably wont be getting one until January, maybe I’ll as for one for christmas. I could write at my kitchen table but the chairs aren’t that comfortable. Mainly cause they are folding chairs (pink and black and really cute). Right now I do everything in my bed, its large and comfortable but maybe a bit to comfortable. I haven’t really done much other than write posts and surf the net. It’s not as great for my back. I need to get one of those lap tables or something.

I need to figure out my snacks and my reward. It would have to be cheap and something I really want. Hmm maybe a desk XD! Well I’m gonna go get some Halloween decorations, laters!

Here’s the interview with Ryun Yamanaka, he’s the main male protagonist of Mistaken Identity.

Relational:

1. How old are you? 34
2. Where were you born? I was born in Bangkok, Thailand. But my parents moved to America shortly afterwards. I was raised in Santa Ana, CA
3. Who do you look like? Your mother, father, or someone else? My father’s father or so I have been told.
4. Do you have any brothers or sisters? No
5. Are you married or single? Single
6. Do you have someone you care about? My family is very important to me.
7. Did you or do you know your grandparents? No
8. Is anyone in your family famous? No
9. Are your parents still living? Yes

Personal:

1. What do you like to drink? A well aged cabernet sauvignon wine.
2. Are you a morning person? Yes, no point in wasting the day away in bed.
3. What are your hobbies or interests? I don’t have time for hobbies.
4. What do you do for a living? I’m a lawyer, a corporate lawyer.
5. What is your education level? I graduated from law school.
6. What’s your favorite food (or drink)? Vegetarian gaeng keo wan, it’s a spicy Thai curry
7. Do you travel much?  Yes, I have clients all over.
8. What do you hope to accomplish in the future? To keep building my clientele and practice.
9. Do you like to read? Yes, I think reading is very important to all.
10. Where are you going? Forward.

Which Describes You Best?

1. Nervous or calm? Calm
2. Teacher or student? Both, you can never know it all; one must be a student before they can teach anything. But be ready to teach others what you have learned.
3. Leader or follower Leader, I follow no one.
4. Brave or fearful I am afraid of no one.
5. Religious or superstitious I believe there is a higher power than I will ever know, but I make my own path.
6. Humble or proud Humble
7. Tall or short? 5’9” you tell me
8. Long hair or short? Short.
9. Honest, stretch the truth when necessary, or all out liar? Everyone’s truth is different
10. Introvert or extrovert? That is irrelevant.

So in preparation of November I decided to do some interviews of my characters. I’ve actually never done this but found that it help me to really get to know the character. As well as think of scenes to come in the story. So this is an interview with Adrianna Valdez, the main character of Mistaken Identity.

Relational:

1. How old are you? 24
2. Where were you born? San Barbara, CA. But my family is originally from Mexico.
3. Who do you look like? Your mother, father, or someone else? Everyone says I look like my mother. I don’t really remember her. She died when I was young. But I’ve seen pictures of her. I can see some resemblances I guess. To me she’s way more beautiful than me. My dad said she was a model when he met her.
4. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Yeah, I’ve got three older brothers…also known as overprotected guardian angels.
5. Are you married or single? I’m single and proud of it.
6. Do you have someone you care about? Sure lots of people. My father and brothers are really the only family I have, they’ve spoiled me rotten and I love them for it. I’ve some friends that a very dear to me, and the older couple who own the little grocery store on the corner. They’ve been a big help to me lately. Oh and my baby, Sprite, she’s my crazy kitten.
7. Did you or do you know your grandparents? I didn’t know my mom’s parents they passed before I was born. My dad’s parents live in Mexico, we visited them once a year around Christmas.
8. Is anyone in your family famous? My dad’s a famous lawyer; he deals with civil suits mostly. I think he did some criminal ones in his younger days. My brothers are lawyers too, following the whole family tradition thing.

Personal:

1. What do you like to drink? I’m a soda addicted. I’ve got to have a Pepsi sometime during the day or I’m just not the same.
2. Are you a morning person? No not at all. I’m the worst person you would want to be around in the morning.
3. What are your hobbies or interests? Let’s see being an 80’s baby I grew up in the 90’s meaning I can’t live without my computer. I’m an avid gamer, computer and video.
4. What do you do for a living? I just got my own place downtown. It’s a condo loft in this refurbished building that use to be a warehouse. It’s great.
5. What is your education level? I’ve got a B.A. in Fine Arts from some private school that my dad made me go to. The deal was he could pick the college but I picked the major. Boy was he mad when I picked fine arts. *Smiles*
6. What’s your favorite food? Caldo de Res or Mexican beef stew. Whenever the maid had a night off my dad would make that. It’s so good and fulfilling.
7. Do you travel much? Like I said we go down to Mexico every year, and I’ve gone on a few business trips with my Dad, but I don’t really travel now a days.
8. What do you hope to accomplish in the future? I want to start my own graphic designing firm. Be my own boss and all that.
9. Do you like to read? I don’t hate to read. Every now and then I’ll pick up a novel and read it but I’m not one of those people who reads religiously. *shrugs*
10. Where are you going? That’s a random question, ‘where am I going?’ Does anyone really know the answer to that. I’m going wherever destiny is leading me I guess.

Which Describes You Best?

1. Nervous or calm? I’m totally a calm person, except for those times when I’m not.
2. Teacher or student? I guess I’m a student, you should always be open to new experiences and learn from them.
3. Leader or follower? Leader most definitely, I don’t follow anyone.
4. Brave or fearful? I think sometimes I can be fearful, I’ve lived a shelter life. I’m not sure if I can handle all there is out there.
5. Religious or superstitious? Superstitions are around for a reason, that’s all I’m going to say.
6. Humble or proud? Proud and humble, I’m proud of who I am and where I’ve come from. But I know there’s always a place for humbleness.
7. Tall or short? I’m of average height, 5’4” thank you very much.
8. Long hair or short? Long, I love my hair. It’s long black and wonderfully wavy…it does exactly what I want it to do…in my dreams. But no really I do love my hair, its pretty long.
9. Honest, stretch the truth when necessary, or all out liar? Well I believe that sometimes you need to stretch the truth sometimes when its for the greater good.
10. Introvert or extrovert? Extrovert…is there any other way to be?

Two minutes before my self given deadline I’ve chosen a story. The story I will be working on is titled Mistaken Identity.

When I come up with an idea the first thing I do is write it down. Usually this is on some scrap piece of paper that is near me. And it’s basically random sentences that help me remember what the idea was at a later date. Then when I have time I type of the idea that you might find on the back/inside cover of a book. Depending on idea and how clearly I remember it there might be more details about the overall idea sometimes not. Then I kind of guess on how long the story might turn out. Sometimes you can look at an idea and now that it’s going to be a short story or a novel. Looking at the ideas I have already typed out I only have two that I think are worth being over 50,000 words (the goal of NaNoWriMo). So that helped, then I just had to chose between the two. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe ensured and it came down to Mistaken Identity.

There’s a short synopsis on my NaNo profile. I still plan on doing posts on how I prepare for this major event. If there’s any other writer’s out there participating this year, add me as a writing buddy. I’ve only got one now, my best friend. If you haven’t joined and you like to write…go join now. Even if you don’t reach 50,000 it’s okay…you still rock for even trying!

Well I’ve got some reading to do before class tonight.

I feel I should explain what NaNoWriMo is. It stands for National Novel Writing Month, basically thirty days to write a 50,000 word novel. For some it doesn’t matter about quality and the content of the novel, just quantity. I’m under the first group more so than the second. Since this will be the first year that I can actually participate in the last 3 years that I’ve known about it, I don’t plan on aiming for 50,000 words. Maybe half of that, 25,000 and I’ll be happy.

First I have to come up with the novel I’m gonna work on. I have some story ideas already for upcoming projects. But which one should I go for. I have no idea. I thought about just going with Passing Time, but I think it has to be a novel that you haven’t done before. I’m not sure if that is allowed. At any point I need to come up with a to do list and due dates for myself.

The first thing would be to pick a story to work on. I’ll have that due Monday 3pm. I have class at 5 so that should give me enough time today and tomorrow to decide.

Anyone else out there participating in NaNoWriMo this year?

Now that I find myself with a computer of my own I just don’t know what to do with myself. I mean I’ve been with one for just over a year. I think I lost Shiba-chan back in October of last yeah and now I have Mac Kegor. It’s weird. I know I said I was done with laptop but I didn’t buy this one. So I’m not going to look a horse in it’s mouth. It’s  a FREE MACBOOK…with Microsoft office on it. So yeah it took forever to get the darn thing but hey I’m done complaining.

My sister has the same macbook but she has iWorks, I was just starting to get use to it too. This one doesn’t have iWorks, I thought it was like PCs, that automatically came with Works loaded. Oh well. I mean it’s the same thing I’d rather have office over works, just because I know more short cuts. I just have to learn shortcuts on Macs again.

I haven’t started writing yet. I’ve got some major reading to do for my Monday night class. But it is the second day of October, which means I need to get cracking on planning for Nanowrimo, next month. I’m gonna participate even if it kills me. And it just might. I just got get scheduling down and I should be okay. I hate that I didn’t get to do it last year, I wasn’t around a computer to work on anything. Took me forever to get to handwriting DYTCiYC.

I need to find my CD for the Fly pen Jen got me for christmas last year. I know I brought from my mom’s. I distinctly remember taking the stuff out of the box and putting it somewhere. I just don’t remember where that somewhere is.

At any rate I’m gonna go read or maybe lay down then I get working on some writing tonight. I do have a one shot that’s near finish.