Tag: words

Posted in Writing

Shake it Off

Posted on by Morgan Ranes

shake it off

You waited all day to show Bobby your short story. Bobby doesn’t know it, but you’ve been editing the piece for weeks. You’ve poured your blood, sweat, and tears into every single word, and your stomach is fluttering with excitement at the thought of his reaction.

Finally, the fated moment comes when you slip your 10-page story over to him, fighting not to bite your nails or jump up and down as he…. glances at it, says, “I’ll read it later,” and goes back to scrolling through Facebook on his phone.

I’m sure you’ve all dealt with a similar situation – there you are, completely and totally thrilled about something you’ve created, and there someone is, not really caring about it.

It’s not that they’re trying to hurt you or downplay what you’ve done (unless they have some weird vendetta against you for stealing their Cheetos), it’s that they don’t get that you essentially just handed them your baby.

It’s easy to end up feeling hurt in these situations – like they don’t care about what you’ve done, or they don’t respect the work you’ve put into it.

The thing is, if they don’t write, if they don’t do whatever creative thing that you’re passionate about, they can’t possibly get where you’re coming from.

Here’s the truth: Just because someone may not be as excited as you are about a piece of your work does not make it:

  • Bad
  • Useless
  • Terrible
  • Lame

In the end, one opinion matters: yours.

Don’t get me wrong, I realize if you’re writing for an audience or an editor, things get trickier, but if you end up stressed because you’re trying to please everyone else, you lose sight of why you started writing in the first place. You lose sight of writing because it’s a passion, because it makes you happy. Don’t let writing become a chore because you’re jumping through everyone’s carefully placed hoops.

Write for you.

Edit for others (if need be).

And when it comes to showing off your work, find a critique partner. Find someone who will be as excited about your work as you are, or at least who is willing to give you constructive criticism. Someone you trust.

In the meantime, shake it off.

Hold your head high.

Walk on.

Write on.

If your writing is important to you, that’s what matters.

If that short story is important to you, that’s all that matters.

You matter.

Your writing matters.

Your dream matters.

And don’t let anyone ever convince you otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Writing

Break the Rules, Politely

Posted on by Morgan Ranes

guidelines

Many moons ago, when I first started getting serious about writing, I was completely and totally consumed with the idea of doing everything according to the rules. I rushed to the library at every free moment, to pore over guide-books and how-to books and stuff my straining book bag with style guides and any book I could find that mentioned writing.

I don’t regret the hours that I spent reading and re-reading these books. I don’t regret the hours I sat in front of my computer looking up articles about writing (between hopping off the internet so my mom could use the phone — I don’t miss dial up). I don’t regret learning the rules, the structure. The thing was, the more I studied the rules, the more stagnant and dry my writing became. I got so concerned about structure, that I forgot about art, I forgot about flow.

I realize now that the very structure I was trying to commit to was the same sort of structure that pissed me off so badly when I took art in college. My instructor would constantly nit-pick at little details in my work, and while I appreciated her eye, I never fully agreed with her. I don’t think you can ever truly grade art, just like I feel like you can never truly grade writing (I’m not talking to you, kids in school! Listen to your teachers)! Art and writing are about freedom. Why would I want mine to look like everyone else’s?

There are important things to be mindful of when you write. You know, like, grammar for one (although even GRAMMAR is sometimes a stylistic choice). But really, truly, we as writers should strive to politely break the rules. Why politely? So that we can remain friends with the rules… eh, maybe distant acquaintances. Besides, you just can’t go around breaking things like a bull in a china shop. No, you at least say hi to the owners first, THEN go on your rampage.

Isn’t it funny that the the more you write, the more “experts” you run into? People who tell you things can only be done one way, who rant and yell if you go against their sovereign wishes?

To help you along the way to writerly freedom, I’ve prepared some practice answers to common disdainful comments:

Disdainful person: “That’s an overused trope!”

You: “Your face is an overused trope!”

Disdainful person: “Don’t use that many adverbs!”

You: “I am quietly and happily ignoring you.”

Disdainful person: “This sentence is way too descriptive.”

You: “I apologize for disturbing your sensitive and unique sense of elaborated descriptors. How ever will I go about making this up to you, my genius and all-knowing counterpart?”

Disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible for injuries received after use of the above comments. Please learn to run fast or laugh like you didn’t mean it before slinking away and hiding under you desk until the coast is clear.

There are rules that I do agree with. I’m not a huge fan of adverbs. That doesn’t make them wrong. That also doesn’t make them right.

Learn the rules, yes. Rules are important. Befriend the rules. Good. Now, keep the rules at a distance. Bend them. Learn how to dance around them. Laugh at them. Give them chocolate once in awhile to keep them quiet.

The wise Pablo Picasso said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

And the wise Captain Barbosa from Pirates of the Caribbean said, in regards to the pirate code, “They’re more like guidelines than actual rules.”

Cheers and high-fives to you, Pablo and Barbosa. You guys got this figured out.

Here’s my point:

Misbehave.

Know the rules.

Then break the rules.

I won’t tell mom.

Pssst. Your writing will thank you for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Writing

Writer, Grim Reaper

Posted on by Morgan Ranes

grim-reaper4

Character deaths are an interesting facet of storytelling. You create someone from nothing, nurture them, grow them, then murder the crap out of them.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m a literary murderer, or at least I’d like to think I have.

There’s no real middle ground with me – either killing a character doesn’t bother me at all, or I hate myself (at least for awhile) for killing them.

There are still characters that I’ve slain, to this day, that haunt me, but I know that killing them was the right thing to do. If you’re going for realism in your story, death, especially in war, is very likely to happen.

When I first started writing, I pretty much refused to kill off any main or semi-important minor characters. They were my friends, my allies, they marched on with their quest and never had to deal with any lasting consequences. Hell, I didn’t even cut off any limbs! Sure, I’d kill a mother or father here (however cliche, who doesn’t appreciate a tragic backstory?), a few minor characters there, and maybe even the villain, but never, ever would I touch my precious darlings.

But in all honesty, what’s the likelihood of all 10 heroes making it out of an ambush alive? Or a flaming maze? Or a battle? What’s the likelihood of them all being intact and unaffected?

I’m not sure what changed in me; if it was my writing that matured, or if after I had personally dealt with several deaths in my own life, I realized that death, although a horrible and tragic thing, has the potential to strengthen those around it. Suddenly your characters are being faced with a situation where the old, wise wizard is no longer around to guide them, or where the loss of their best friend is driving them forward.

Death may be hard to write, but it’s very real. Consequences are very real. Your characters dealing with lasting scars, ailments, or grief because of what they’ve been through is very real. If your characters are real, your readers will connect with them. YOU, as the writer, will connect with them.

Sometimes killing a character isn’t the right thing to do, but if it is, don’t be afraid.

I am always here to provide internet hugs.

Annnnnnddd now that I’m sitting here thinking about all my deceased characters, I’ll leave you to your killing while I go weep in the corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in NaNoWriMo, Writing

NaNoWriMo!

Posted on by Morgan Ranes

20540050

Ever year in November, writers from all around the world participate in a crazy little event called NaNoWriMo, also known as National Novel Writing Month.

The goal?

Write 50,000 words in a month.

The prize?

A 50,000 word manuscript that you wrote.

Are you still with me?

On top of November, some crazy writers (such as myself) also choose to participate in “Camp NaNoWriMo”, which takes place in April and July. Camp is a little more casual in the fact that you choose your own word goal.

This year I’ve set the whopping goal of 75,000 words for July. I wrote 30,000 words back in April, but my story went completely off the rails and grew three arms and five subplots. My April novel will definitely be revisited, but for now, my focus is on July.

I’m happy to report that I’m 32 chapters into the outline for my July novel, The Alabaster Heir, and the more I outline, the more I cannot WAIT to get started! (That being said, I have also updated my Current Project page with the cover and synopsis for The Alabaster Heir!)

So, why on earth would I subject myself to this cruel sort of torture, you ask?

Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time, I frequented the forums on GaiaOnline. If any of you know what that is, feel free to mock me or throw fruit at me (especially if it’s fresh and delicious fruit).

Anyways, I used to hang out on the writing forum, and one day I ran across a thread with the title “NaNoWriMo.”

I squinted at it, attempting to pronounce it to myself (which I’m sure I did terribly), then, in that fated moment, clicked the thread and opened the door to the rest of my life. Cue dramatic music and a montage of me furiously typing and screaming at my laptop at all hours of the day and night.

If I’m being honest, my initial reaction to  NaNoWriMo was one of deep sarcasm and many shrugs.

How could I accomplish the ridiculous task of writing 50,000 words in a month?

I thought it improbable, impossible. I ran away from that thread as fast as I possibly could, and yet the idea of NaNo continued swimming around my head.

A few weeks later found me at a writer friend’s house. I asked her if she’d heard about those other crazy writers on Gaia who were going to attempt to write a novel in a month. Long story short: She hadn’t. I showed her the thread. We ended up on the website. And then something kooky happened…

We both lost our minds and decided to do it.

I did write pretty frequently at that point in my life, but I had never finished more than a short or co-authored story, and I had no idea in hell how to outline.

If you’re a writer (or like writing, or enjoy long nights and excuses to drink caffeine), I SO SO SO encourage you to try NaNo! Do it in November! Do it in July! Do it in April! Heck, make your own goal during your favorite month and write until you can no longer feel your fingers! (FYI it doesn’t have to be a novel. Some people do a series of short stories or poems or a script or whatever the heck they want.)

Even if you don’t finish, even if you get 5k in and decide that you hate your story, YOU STARTED SOMETHING WONDERFUL!

NaNo taught me to make goals in my writing, and to be serious about those goals. Writing is a muscle. You have to work it as much as you possible so you can be the lean, mean, writing machine you were always meant to be.

I thank the writing gods for that silly thread in that silly forum so many moons ago. Ten years later I’m still doing NaNo and I wouldn’t trade the missed sleep, over-consumption of caffeine, cancelled social plans, or lost sanity for anything.

Thanks to NaNo I’ve finished several novels (revisions are another story, but we’ll talk about that later), learned my style of outlining and what works for me, and have set and accomplished other writing goals that I never thought I’d be able to accomplish – like writing every day, for one.

Yes, let the plot flow throughhhhh youuuu. And come do NaNoWriMoooooooo!

Condensed version:

I’ve learned a lot from NaNo. NaNo is my bro. Let NaNo be your bro. Do NaNo. Let me know. We can suffer together.