Monday, December 31, 2012

2013

Here it is, less than an hour for another new year. The first question anyone asks - even before they tell you to have a happy New Year, is do you have New Year Revelations?

The usual response may be to lose ten pounds. You know, fit into those jeans that's been sitting in your closet for years, and have been mocking you instead of motivating you.

Or it could be something along the lines of getting that promotion you've been working your butt off for.

The truth is, there are plenty of revelations out there - things you want to achieve, goals you want to make it to. I've had them, you've had them, everyone has had them.

I don't want to make revelations or predictions on what I want to achieve for the year of 2013. It's not just another year, like most will say when they shrug away your curious on what they plan to do with themselves for another twelve months.

I'm happy to be working in my art. Writing again, to be more exact. Yes, I touched on this in a facebook post, but here, on my blog, I would like to get more specific.

In truth, I barely remember 2011. I barely remember the beginning of 2012. I cannot say that I had a bad year in 2011 - I just don't remember it. I remember my college graduation and I remember not wanting to be there. I had the GRADUATION BLUES and it was like cramping with a cycle while you were in hundred degree weather and wearing white jeans.

A nasty metaphor, but I want you to understand the place I was in my head. I was having a huge moment, walking across the stage, recieving my B.A. with honors and I didn't want any part of the celebration.

One year, two years, more years if you're lucky. Time speeds up on you. I remember celebrating 1997, alone in my room and much has changed since then and now, but here I am, alone in my room, not really celebrating, but only preparing for the trails and tribulations of a goal I want to achieve. Back in 1997, I wanted to be an awesome athelete. I succeeded my goal and then some.

This year, I want to be an amazing Story Teller. These things take time. You have to build connections, meet people and be prepared to open your mind to them when you hand them a book. You will gain fans, or really thorough critics, or nothing. It's all by chance, but what never changes is the drive.

2012 was my coming back year. I have written several novels, none that I am a hundred percent proud of, all by a different name. I am not afraid to reveal a name to you and let you find my earlier works, but if you do not ask, I do not share it. That was the past, my starting point and I'm proud of that starting point to that extent.

KaNeshia Michelle is the name I go by. I have grown these last few years, jumped into my skin, shredded away the uncertainity and the fear of really putting yourself out there. It's the grind that makes you falter. The pool of Indie Writers are huge - I've met plenty that have been friendly and inspiring, but we are all at competes with each other. Sure, we enjoy the freedom of doing our own thing without a publishing company up our butts, telling us to change this and that, but nine out ten, if the oppurtunity presents itself we would sign a contract and deal with those head aches.

Any achiever simply wants breathing room and stability. You want to know that you are taken care of. We love what we do, but it's even better when we are compensated - financially - for the work. We are proud of our hard work, sweat and tears we put into our art with no money and only passion for what we do to keep moving, but we all want that one thing.

Stability and a peace of mind that what we work so hard to do won't be in vain. That we won't wake up twenty years later from this moment forward and still be in the same boat that we are today. We want to be remembered, liked and celebrated for our work. We want that fresh breath of air, the knowing that we are remembered.

It may sound bad, it may sound like I'm getting a head of myself, or you may simply don't agree. That's okay. I love every fan I have, even every pair of eyes that touches these pages, but I don't think I will make friends of everyone that knows my name. I simple can't befriend every person that tells me I'm good at what I do.

2013 is going to be a good year. I've learned from my mistakes, I've pulled myself out of a slump, I like who I am again and I have faith in who i will be.

That's why I hit such a deep dark part last year and 2011. I lost sight of myself. My dreams grew too big around me and everything i wanted out of life just seemed too far away. The fear overtook me.

Fear is part of life, part of the journey. You need to be scared at times, it may keep you pushing, keep you going, keep you grounded. It can destroy you too. It's part of life, we live it, we do our best and if we can be sorry for less and proud of more of what we became, then we are all winners.

KaNeshia Michelle 2012 - at least for the next thirty-six minutes.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Holiday Slowdowns

Yes, it's been days since I've posted up a new blog post. It's been days - weeks, maybe - that I tweeted. It may have been even longer since I posted a new post for facebook.

The root of the problem is the holidays. It has been terribly hard to stay active, to stay productive when there's food to eat, drinks to be drank and gatherings to attend.

Writing requires so much thinking, depending on what stage you are on in the process, and it becomes so hard to stay focus when your physical pressence is needed.

Okay, with the slight holiday rant is over, I guess it's time to get this blog on the way.

Staying Productive may not be in the easiest thing to do. As writers, we may have control over our creative world, but we do not have control over the comings and goings around us. When you have a full work load, and your time for creativity may only come from a small window of  time, your day to day life, and even human reactions and interactions can get in the way.

I applaud anyone who can work in the creative sense and still go to a Christmas party aftwards. I had a huge Thanksgiving. I knew that Christmas would be much smaller for me - in terms of my participation.

I was still a little gung-ho from my progress through the Thanksgiving holiday. I managed to finish my rewrite on The Playmate and start on the final copy once my editor sent it back to me - yes, we were on Superman coattails - during the Thanksgiving.

I just knew that Christmas would provide me the same engergy.

It did not.

The moral of this is not to worry if you aren't getting work done like you hope. This is where I messed up at. I worried myself silly because there were things to do, work that needed to get done and it wasn't happening. I had wanted to take a MENTAL BREAK until the New Year 2013. For the last solid months I have been writing and jumping from one project to the next.

It's safe to say that I am tired.

I do not like not producing work. I know what it feels like to have ideas in your head and go to hammer it out, but nothing comes or gets. I spent a very confused and lonely year like that.

So when I hit a time span of no productive work, I get a little shifty. Writing is apart of life for me. I do it to get a line of fresh air, it's a way to go through life. It's my filter. It's like smoking a cigarette without a filter. The tobacco is way too strong and you will soon be coughing a little too thickly on the tar. A bad scenerio, but hey, for smokers, they may get it.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Letting The Mind Rest

It's close to the holidays - two days till Christmas to be exact.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and the cheer, the holiday songs, the cookies and milk, but this year I can't wait to get it all over with.

For the last four months I have been jumping from one writing project to the next. Ruck's Nightmare went in first then The Chase and then The Playmate.

Now, I'm moving on to my final novel, which is set to come out in the beginning of 2013: Rogue.

My mind is blah... Between my own indiviual writing projects, I have had paid gigs to keep up with. A script writing job, which is now completed - well, the first rough is. And a comic book job, which needs the final touches and then it's shoved right out the door.

If you asked me a few months ago, if taking on several projects at one time was a good idea, I would have told you 'yes.' But now I'm not so sure. I have experienced plenty of set backs from this spurt of insanity.

SET BACKS:

Sleep...
Rest...
Solid Mind...
Coherent thought...

Sleep is a sailing dream. Resting goes hand and hand. I can't stop my mind from working. I keep a tally in my head which project needs what... My mind doesn't feel solid or strong at all. No, does not mean I'm going into a straight jacket, but it makes me feel tired and tired and doesn't help with my mood at all.

Coherent thought... I get slightly scattered brain. I move from one thought to the next... unable to plan out one solid detail.

The moral of this story is take your time with your planning and your writing. Your mind, as a writer, is the most valuable thing. I am fortunate to say that I have made it through my writing obligations, but I will go about a solid brick of writing much different the next time. I'm not an outliner, but from now on I will be.

I won't rush my work, but effeciantly plan things out.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Writing vs. Social Media

I'm starting learn that writing isn't the hardest part of being an Indie Author.

It's the social media. Don't get me wrong, I like it - I love meeting new people and authors. Still, it's a lot when you still have to try and crank out, at least, fifteen pages a night on your next and upcoming book.

Now, on this blog, I have talked about ways to write around Story Snags and ways to keep your head free in order to do your work.

For the social media... I'm at a lost. Yes, to write, you need to keep your head free, but how do you do that when you have to respond to emails and do interviews and keep up on friends. Being an Indie Author, you have to be apart of the community. No, you can't act like the golden child - like your work is so great that it's only a matter of time before someone will read it and that one person will turn into millions.

No, you have to give back to the community if you think the community is going to do anything for you. I have met wonderful people on Facebook. I have learned from them because they opened the door for me to learn.

I will figure out a formula on how to deal with the attention requirement for Social Media and I'll do a post on how to keep your head clear, you mind fresh and ready to create.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Simply falling into your words

My editor tells me that I have a way of using camera directions in my writing. Again, I went to school for film and the way I write and layout a story, is in a way that I can see it being shot like a film.

This simple technique - writing in a way that I would see it on a screen or in a movie - has done wonders for my detail. I love to feel like I'm in the story.

I enjoy giving my characters mudane things to do. To me, in a way, it makes the character more human, more real. Like giving your character a moment to sit in a cafe to drink a cup of coffee or read a newspaper. Or even taking an extra moment in a kissing scene to allow your character to savor the taste of another's lips.

It's the little things that make you fall into a story. Yes, action is great. Yes, conflict is wonderful, but every story has conflict and some sort of action. Our minds, as we read, has come to be used to this, so we expect it. In stories that just have action and some sort of drama/conflict, we watch these things from a third point of view.

Give your reader a moment to rest inside the character's shoes. Just like in a movie, you are the main character, you put yourself in their shoes, ride the ride with them. You have to give your reader a chance to sit down with the character, learn the important facts about them, but watch them take a moment in their story. You will be surprised how you will fall into the words.

When you, as the writer, fall into your own story and you see every detail as you type them, then your reader will experience the same.

Just think about that.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

RUCK'S NIGHTMARE

Mark Anderson was the typical small town, football player - a quarterback, no less - and had the cheerleader girlfriend.

Yes, we've seen it a thousand times. We've seen it in Friday Night Lights and movies like Varisty Blues. We know the story of a young kid, mostly always a boy, is given fame, and a free pass because he knew how to toss a lemon shaped ball.

So why did I write a story about a high school quarter back? I did it because I lived in a small town for six years. I saw how interesting things could get on a game night. No, the town wasn't football crazy, but there was an energy there. I wanted, if only for a moment, to capture that. Only a few, yes even fewer, will know what it feels like to be treated like a God for four years.

Yes, to be treated that way can be bad for a person later, but it's that moment, where no one can see the reprecussions of bowing to a simple seventeen year old.

In Ruck's Landing, Mark Anderson has the usual small town dream of leaving the small town life with his girlfriend to be in a huge college and become a pro football player. Well, not only does this not happen, but he takes major, major combinations of bad misfortune.

This book was the first of my So Thrilled Collection, which may have been a mistake. Ruck's Nightmare is a thriller but the thrills truly don't happen to the end of the story - more or less, the last twenty pages of it. I enjoyed painting the picture of Mark's life. I was fascinated by his play on the field, the way his love for his girlfriend seemed to elevate his life to a euphoric level.

With all that said, Ruck's Nightmare is a book that slowly paints a picture, but not fast enough for those that are looking for a thrill. I have gotten nothing but good reviews back for the book, but I have been told on more than one occasion that the book started off slow, that they loved the football scenes but there were parts that could have been taken out.

I do not regret anything about Ruck's Nightmare. Like I stated, I enjoyed capturing the small town and the football craziness. I did learn that despite being an author and writing for you, you may have to gain an eye for when you need to trim down detail. I say this plenty of times not to FALL IN LOVE with your writing. Writers have to be adaptable and easy with change.

I would like to think that THE CHASE was a much better story in regards to it's pacing. I have gotten awesome reviews on that one, and I am very smitten with my character Fall Pryor.

I wouldn't be surprised at the impulse to give him another story, this time giving him a full novel to work with to really see him flourish.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Half Here, half there

I touched on this on facebook and on twitter. A writer's mind is constantly in two places. Half of that mind is in the world, in the now, in the living - and other is in the world they create on pages. As a writer you are constantly thinking. Your mind - rather you want it that way or not - is constantly on the hunt for the next story. If I was not a writer, I really do wonder why kind of person I would be. Writing is an escape, an outlet, a way to understand the world. Don't get me wrong, my day to day life is not hard. I enjoy my life, but life still can be a little cruel at times, a little tough. Everyone should have a filter, a way to deal with the world as it changes ever so quickly all around you. Nothing is for certain. This is why I'm half here and half somewhere else.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Respecting your writing flow

There's something to be said about respecting the way your creativity comes to you.

I am a night writer. Only, in the wee hours do I feel like my mind is opened enough to begin writing. My professor was a morning writer. He found the beginning hours of the day much easier to create.

Now, during my day, I do keep a journal on me to log in any ideas that may strike.

The point I'm making is that you have to respect the flow of your creativity. Your writing something you can force. You have to deal with it when it comes. Yes, I get it, some of us have deadlines and have to force the work. I am not saying that this cannot work - sometimes we train ourselves to do darn good work under pressure, but you should still understand when the best ideas come.

Structure is always a good way to deal with your writing abilities. It's like a diet. You want your body to respond to what you put in it that is supposed to be good. You want your mind to respond to way you treat it.

Think about that.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A dream achiever's RANT

I am a human being. I am just as flawed as the next person. I am not perfect, and never tried to be. I am no better than the next person. I am just as afraid of the world and it's mystery as everyone esle.

But, why is it when I tell people of my dreams - yes, I want to be a story teller, and I want to write movie scripts and game scripts, and I want to world known - that they don't give me the look of disabelief?

Why don't my family look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them what I want to achieve?

Why do they look at me like I have what it takes to do all that I've dreamed?

And why does this feel worse than what it would have felt if they said that I was dreaming and reality would be around the corner?

Why do I wish that they put me down instead of agreeing me?

Well, it's because it is so much easier to prove someone wrong by doing nothing you planned then to fail at a dream that they believed you could achieve.

Nothing in life is promised. I am a good writer and a story teller, but it is so easy for things to go wrong, or my novels to never gain the steam that I need to achieve what I want. It is so easy to be passed over. It so easy to remain unknown.

Why must dreams be so hard?
Why must they be so scary?
Why must the years pass so quickly?
Why can't the world just stop for one single moment, so I can look at the world as it is, as it is right now. I'm twenty-five, and people will tell me that I have my whole life in front of me.

But, I'm twenty-five now, chasing a dream. It is so easy to still be chasing that dream when I fifty, and I won't get those understanding pats on the back that says I have my entire life in front of me.

Instead, I will get that shake of the head, and someone may say it may be time to give up.

The latter scenerio scares me more then if someone told me my last breath I will breathe is five minutes from now.

KaNeshia Michelle

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Novel writing vs. Script Writing

What I have here is script writing and novel writing. The same story, virtually the same dialogue, but this is to show how different they are.

I am a script writer, have wanted to be for over ten years, but before you sell an idea for hundred of thousands, it helps to build a name as a story teller. This is why I moved over to novel writing. You should think of learning different paths too.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - DAY

The automated door GRINDS back and JOHN DOE rushes through the thick lobby with his cell phone in his ear.

                                                                         JOHN
                                                       (on the phone)
                                                No. I heard you the first time.
                                                        (pause)
                                                This promotion is everything. My wife just maxed out
                                                 our account. There is no going back if I don't make more.

John notices a BLONDE RECEPTIONIST blinking furiously with a sexy, inticing smile.

John freezes, a dreamy smile over his face. His hands stuffs his phone in his pocket as the Blonde Receptionist blows a kiss. GULP!

Through John's pants pocket, the fabric glows as phone begins its SHRILL RING.

                                                                           JOHN
                                                             (answering)
                                                    Yes... I mean, no, sorry about that. Something
                                                     came up.

John glances back at Blonde Receptionist, but she's busy making google eyes at another man.

Defeated, John trudges his way to the elavator as piles of people file out. He's bumped and shoved out of the way.

ON JOHN'S pitiful, sad face as the door slides closed.

Okay, now let's try the novel writing way.

John Doe has had a terrible day. He waits, his phone to his ear, as the door automated grind open for him. Harry is on the phone, screaming, demanding things of him that he just can't give, but John knows he has to plead his case of how desperate he is.

"No," said John, "I heard you the first time."

"Oh, I  thought I would have to spell it out for you, Doe!"

John and Harry aren't friends, but John is forced to play the winkling.

"The promotion is everything. My wife has maxed out our account." John bites his lip as he sees a beautiful, knock out blonde woman smiling at him from the reception desk. "There is no going back if I don't make more."

The blonde hasn't looked away yet and John can't help the tightening in his chest. Harry is screaming at him, belittling him, but he's shut it out. He's barely aware of himself ending the call and shoving the phone back in his pocket. He knows he's going to cross the lobby and try to ask for her number. Yes, sure, he's married but he doesn't think that he would be cheating by getting another woman - other than his wife - to smile at him.

There's nothing wrong with taking chances, or, more or less, seeing if you're still a catch at age forty-two.

The phone vibrates in his pocket again, and John knows that he's just hung up on the only person who maybe swing the promotion in his favor.

He tests another smile at the blonde before putting the phone back to his ear.

Before he can even open his mouth, Harry hits him with, "I'm going on Mark, with this."

John's heart is in his throat. He glances at the blonde and she's no longer making eye contact. Well, at least not with him. Twice, in the matter of moments, he has been passed over. Trudgingly, and trying not to cry, he smashes the button on the elevator, and can barely stay on his feet as he is shoved and pushed as a pile of folks rush out from the elevator.

"John, you're smart but I need a ball buster," Harry is saying.

John feels the first start up of tears as the door grind closed.


Novel Writing and Script writing is so much different. You have to think in a different way - see the story in a different way.

All authors should learn a different form of telling a story. It will benefit you and push you.

Monday, November 19, 2012

The truth to ourselves...

Today, I really ask the question: will one day my ambition kill me?

These last few weeks have been such a trek - still not over - and I have felt so alive, complete and grounded as I pushed myself to finish these two novels, but in the same instance I feel more drained and withdrawn than I've ever felt.

I believe a true story teller has to become apart of their work, but to do that comes with a cost.

My characters are haunting me like ghost from spirits that I've wronged. When I'm writing, I feel their emotions, and since I like to get deep in my stories and push my characters, I've been going through the ringer right along with them.

Like I stated, I truly believe that this what it requires to really get into you story and make it the best it can be. If you don't feel it, if you're not in it when you're creating the words, then how can you expect for someone - a reader - to feel the same? How do you expect for your readers to become apart of you story if you're not in it?

The answer is that they won't fall into it like you would want them.

There is a difference between a reader liking what you've wrote and loving what you wrote. And in order for someone to love what you wrote then you have to put your soul into your words. You have to give it everything you got. If this is your passion, if writing is your dreams then you have give passion into your passion.

That's the way the world works, that's how it operates. You get what you pay for and you get out of what you put into it.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The troubles of falling so deep into your work

One novel finally handed over to my editor. Another is still in mid swing of it's first re-write.

Of course, as a writer, story teller, you should be happy that your work is slowly growing, but what does this work do to you?

I cannot sleep. Correction, I am sleeping but I'm not resting. My mind is not turning off. I have fallen heavy back into gaming and reading, just to settle my mind and allow myself some distance from my story, but still the work is taking it's toll.

What does this tell us?

That words are extremely powerful. That we, as writers, fall so hard into our work that it becomes increasingly hard to detach yourself. Of course, there are excersises to help with this: gaming and reading or listening to music, but it doesn't always work.

I can easily say that I'm tired. There are rings under my eyes now and I feel like I'm dead on my feet in my day job. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world, but anyone just starting this writing process should know that this is what you face.

The only times I actually feel not so tired is when I'm sitting at my computer, when I'm back in my story - only there do I feel like I'm on to something, or like I just had a jug of red bull.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Writing up a storm, now losing steam on the re write

Yes, I have talked about them, plugged them on my later blog posts.

I am currently done with my two newest novels: Rogue and the Playmate and I'm working on the final re writes.

Yet, there's a problem. I've been around the story so much, from beginning to end, backwards and forward over and over again and now I'm just tired of putting in those finer details. I have approached these novels in the text book way - I two a two week breakup, and after the break up, I have started working on the novels once more, but my work ethic is shot.

I miss the writing process so much right now. I miss typing and delving in the story, but re writing and reading over what you done is a different creative process.

So, when you're a writer, a story teller, and you've just about had it with a particular book, what do you do to hit the finish line when you start to slow down?

I've succumbed to these exercises: reading over books, listening to music, clearing my head before I write.

You have to keep a clear head, you have to gain patience with your work. Your work is like your child and it needs the nurishment. Sure, the child is more like a teenager that's a hop and skip away from graduating and getting out of your house, but those final stages of your works need the most tending to.

I don't like it, but I know what it felt like to not be writing. I will pick being frustrated with my almost finished work then being frustrated with myself because I have no works in the process of being done.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Social Media Vs. A Self Published Author

Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Blogger

These are just a few - mind, the biggest that I've seen so far - that a self published author needs to conquer in order to get their name out, and people reading their books.

Just four little websites, four little pathways, to get out there, but they aren't little. These engines are huge. You have to meet people, talk to them, plug your work and get more people coming in than you are putting yourself out there.

Social Media can be terrifying to someone who just want to write a good story and hand it off, and everyone line up and read it. No, not in today's time. In today's time you have to be just as talented in the Social Media circus as you are on paper with a great story.

Reality is a bitter pill. The pill that I'm going to shove in your palm with this post is that eventhough you are the best at being a writer, if you can't master Social Media than it means nothing. It's a tough spill, but it's the odds. I don't even want to do the 2012 numbers on just how many people have thrust themselves out there and became self pubished authors. Half the time, these authors aren't worth much on paper, and, yes, it sounds bad to say this but it's true.

You have hundred of musicians. Or, let's be a little more specific, rappers. There are some rappers out there who will never get the big break because they didn't know how to get out there, and there are someone who get out there, make it and they aren't as half as good as the one who didn't.

Success is never truly all about talent. It takes some luck, some getting out there, getting your project to the right folks.

I do encourage doing the work, and busting your tail to know you're stuff. You have to push yourself to be the best writer you can be. Learn the ropes, build that foundation because if your turn comes for you to get out there, you want to be ready.

Social Media is a beast, but it's a fight that you have to go into if you want your work out there in the world.

Think about that.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Breaking up with your writing

I have finished the last story - which is now a novel - The Playmate.

And, I'm in remorse over the break up. Yes, you read it, I've broken up with The Playmate, and my upcoming novel Rogue.

It's not a forever break, but I've been through Rogue, a story about a man, Tristan Rogue, who is in way over his head when he falls in love with his mistress' daughter, and tries to battle through his own lies, sex and deciet in family of the Rogue - a powerful crime family who take their codes seriously and would kill Tristan for the sins he's committed.

I've been through Rogue three times, as far as, a re-write - making sure it's perfect. And, my novel and I need a break.

As a writer, you will never be completely in tune with your final project, and you can so easily over re-write and analyze it to death.

Killing a story by butchering it is terrible. So, I've taken two weeks to get a way from the world and take a moment, before I pull the story back up and finish it off so it can be put out there in the Self Published world.

As far as, the Playmate, well, I didn't need a break, but I took one. I love the story and there are so many ways to make it better. So, pacing myself before I start DELETING and rewriting.

The Playmate, Brynn Coolgate, the sole survivor from the biggest child killer and rapists, prepares herself for a battle that she knows is coming. The Playmate, hasn't forgotten about her, and eventhough she's twenty-years older, he still ones the friend that got away.

Well, that's all for now. I've been bored and scared to death that I've been actually sleeping nights instead of writing, re-writing.

Friday, October 19, 2012

THE POWER OF THE DELETE BUTTON

In the last post, I touched on Writer's block, and gave it a new name: Story Snags.

I was currently writing a short story to complete the So Thrilled collection, currently on Amazon.com under KaNeshia Michelle.

The last story, that is more now of a novel, the Playmate has been a challenging piece of work by far for the end of 2012.

When times are up, I'm knee deep in the story to my elbows and smiling all the way. When the story is getting good, and the writing is matching up, then everything is right with the world and it is really easy to smile and talk to strangers on the street.

But when the writing is bad, and it feels like a pile of quicksand, and no amount of hard work seems to find a good foot hold on the bad ground then you're most likely prone to sucker punch the first person that says 'hi' to you in a manner you don't like.

That why you have to answer the calling of the DELETE BUTTON.

For some writers, this is like the worse thing you could ever do. It could take years to crank out ten pages for some writers and getting rid of the work is like a bad omen. But, I have a solution.

Thanks to my Professor.

I use a DEVELOPMENT log to place my deleted prose. A few lines may not work, but that doesn't mean it's best to scrub the words off the face of the earth. Sometimes its best to copy and paste the bad stuff into a log. That way you know you'll always have it, and it's like a word bank, just in case a part didn't work in one place and yet it works in another place.

Bad passages in a story can ruin the story and lead you to a WRITER'S STORY SNAG. It's a frustrating time for a writer. Believe me, I know. That's why you have to exercise reading through your words and searching out the hiccups, and, on top of that, don't be afraid to delete it - but put the deleted words into a seperate file just in case you need it.

Writing is fun and easy, but we all need tricks to get through the rough patches.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Your mind and writing

I have come to learn that your mental stability is extremely fragile when you're a writer.

My job is mostly physical, but I have moved to a different department where I have more of a mental strain. And, it interrupts my writing when I get home.

Setting a time aside when you do nothing but write is a great idea, but in order for that to work and your time that you are writing to be effective, you have to keep a clear mind. Stress - mental stress - can have you blocked, completely unable to be effective in your works.

So there are exercises that I do to keep my mind clear throughout my day. I read, listen to music and try to pull a little time aside during my shift to write a little. It's important.

My college professor says that he doesn't believe in writer's block, but i have to say I do. It isn't writer's block, but STORY SNAGS...

One line can throw off your entire novel. And, if you're a writer like me, you tend to fall in love with your work and find it incrediably hard to get out of the block.

Clear mind, remember that. Read through your works and do not be afraid to delete. A delete button can be truly imposing. You can get rid of one line or an entire page or even more. Sometimes you have to do that. You have to get rid of that snag in order to iron out the problems.

Focus is the key and it's so hard in today's world. We may have jobs, kids, parents, just plain whole life that pulls us in different directions. Center yourself, pull that time you need to clear your mind, ease the dress, do exercises where you can calm down and stay in control.

Writing depends on your mental stability. Five minutes of pulling yourself together makes a difference.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Here is the facts so far

I never thought I would be a blogger.
Never thought anyone would want to read a blog, because it's nothing more than an online diary of sorts.
And, it's more, I get that, but, hey, work with me here.

As for my first blog, I want to get a few things straight. My entries may have tons of typos, errors, grammar oops, but it's my blog, my words.

Yes, I have an editor, but I use her for my published works. This is me, plain and simple.

To be clear, I am a story teller. Yes, a writer, but not just that. I enjoy stories. I love stories. I love things that take you away from life and place in you in another world where you can read other people's lives, go through their problems. You can watch a character either beat all the bad guys and win, or take the last stand and lose - it can be for an even bigger victory, or it can be for nothing.

I currently have several novels out in circulations, all under different names. Two other names than KaNeshia Michelle.

Back in those other novel worlds, I was feeling myself out, trying out new skins. KaNeshia Michelle is the skin I want to start out on and build that foundation.

As of right now, I have a short story called Ruck's Nightmare. It's a collection that will compose of three stories. This is my starting point.

I am not what you call a successful Author, or in my words: Story Teller.

No, I do not have a mountain of readers, but I do feel like I'm on my way and that's what matters. Writing is my life, the way I see life and that's all I can hope for. And, if no one but my mother reads my works than, hey, I've done something right.

Success is measured not by the money you make. Hey, money is great, don't get me wrong, but it's measured by how you feel about yourself.

I take one day at a time. I take a book, or a story, one word at a time. This blog is another form of taking a word at a time. I hope you share in this with me.

If you read this far, then thank you.