Wednesday, January 2, 2008
It's Your Life so Use It
My life as a pirate is more beneficial to me than any life I could ever lead. Pirates are of a different mind set. We take instances from our lives that may mean nothing to someone else and make them into so much more. How does a pirate manage to take a scene on a deserted island and make it into something far more worthy than the moment? When she picks up her pen, starts with the island scene, and weaves with words a far bigger tale.
Our everyday lives feed us with fodder for our work. We can look at confrontations with co-workers as just another stressor in our day, but it doesn’t have to be. Make it into that angst-filled scene that you’ve been struggling with night after night. A drink after work with a friend, a teary moment over a commercial on TV, and a lighthearted flirty conversation with a member of the opposite sex can all provide our minds with stimulation that can foster another chapter in our WIP.
When you least expect it life hands you the perfect dialog, or an angst filled situation that you’ve struggled to put on paper. Stories waiting to be told can be found at the end of our fingertips everyday. Americans read a billion tons of paper every year, from newspapers to newsletters, to magazines. We watch movies and TV shows and browse the internet. All of the tasks we complete while not writing, can stimulate ideas for our writing.
Some of the best dialog I’ve ever written were words spoken to me in a conversation when writing was the last thing on my mind. I’ve used emotional scenes in my life to write some of the most emotionally devastating scenes I’ve ever written. Our life is filled with defeats, and joys that don’t have to be lived only once. Defeats, obstacles, and shortcomings don’t have to be blocked memories never to be thought of again. Let your characters overcome them for you, and write the ending that you’ve always wanted.
Does your life foster your writing life?
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18 comments:
Pillaging from your own life! That's the way to do it, mate.
Actually I find this more emotionally satisfying. I never find the right thing to say IN THE MOMENT, but later, when I do find the right thing to say, I can have my character say it, snag the cute boy who sells her cupcakes, then drive off into the sunset. That would never happen in my real life--but I can make it happen in my writing one. And who says it can't be true. Reality is in the eye of the storyteller.
Great Blog, Sin.
I think my life helps to enrich my WIP. But, I also think a large chunk of the events in my life wouldn't make good fodder for writing. It's just a bit mundane.
Not that I'm complaining about that. The greatest joys in the world, in my opinion, are found in the day to day mundane. I just don't know if trying to express that is what I want out of my WIP. And I haven't had a whole lot of angst, except baby angst, in the past few years. (Again, not complaining). :)
But, I think that emotions are universal so, I definitely use that in my work.
I agree Hellion,beautiful observation. Don't you hate when you think of the perfect comeback after the fact?
That's the beauty of a writer's mind. We can always move words and scenes through our minds and perfect them just the way we need them to be. Even if the words are not perfect on the first try, with a revelation we have the ability of Tivo. We can rewind and write it just the way it needs to be, and even better than before. It's a shame our lives aren't like Tivo:)
Consider yourself lucky, Marnee. I used to have mundane. *sigh* Perfect example of careful what you wish for.
Great blog, Sin. I do find myself taking scenes from my life, tweaking and twisting them into something better. And it doesn't have to just be encounters with the opposite sex. There all sorts of relationships in people's lives, friendships, sister to sister, mother to daughter, etc...
The lovely thing is we can use them all. And I'm so with you on having the right comeback. I'm actually pretty good at that in the moment but those times when you think of a better one two days later. Oh, I wish I could do it all again.
Marnee, Sin and I traded blog spots this week, so you're stuck with me today:)
I agree with you, our lives get mundane and it's hard sometimes to pull a scene or story out of no where. I find in those times I rely on stories in the news, or work conversations to fill in needed dialog or scenes.
I'm fortunate to work with some very witty individuals who are blessed with a wicked sense of humor. A lot of the humor I write comes from their material:)
RL is definitely great material for my writing. I enjoy a combination of what Hellion said (always thinking of the right comeback too late) and what you said (surrounding yourself with funny, witty people).
It's very important to recognize it when you see it. I've been part of so many great conversations over the years that are gone now because I didn't think to write them down.
ITA with Terri, though, with the fact that it doesn't need to be just the romantic relationship you can pull material from. I'm starting to get tons of material now from my kids. Go figure!!
Irish perfect example of using your child's comebacks and unbelievable dialog.
I have an eight year old going on twenty. He amazes me on a daily basis.
Marnee when your little pirate gets older you'll reap the benefits of his conversations with you.
Life in TIVO would be funny. You can rewind and pause the really good parts, fastforward through the commercials or the embarrassing parts...and TIVO reviews your selections and makes additional selections for you. So if you had a date one night, it's pick up several more dates for you--so you can have your pick of men.
I just hope TIVO wouldn't use the date I had as a prototype for all other dates. One pig-killing redneck is plenty--as is the gay one...or the one who wants a love like the Titanic. (All of these men, by the way: Aquarians. Run, run far from Aquarians.)
Lissa, I'm so sorry! I didn't even look at the poster. You guys can't switch up on me! I already spend my days in confusion. :)
Anyway, Great Blog Lissa!!
I love to use other people's material, though I was a little unnerved to see my material used elsewhere. A coworker during my teaching life is a stand up comic, incredibly talented. (www.rlcomedy.com) and sometimes situations we experienced at school/ things I said and others said would show up in his material. Of course, he made them way funnier, but boy was it strange.
I can't wait til the little pirate starts talking. He just learned uh oh this week and he's hilarious with it. Right on cue. :) LOL!
TIVO life would be pretty awesome. I could fast forward through some of my less savory jobs.
That's okay Marnee, I know we're used to Sin blogging on Wednesdays. She asked me to switch spots this week, so I'm just trying to help out a fellow blogger:)
Terrio how was your trip? We have some snow today in the Ohio valley. Did you encounter any bad weather?
I'm with you Cap'n. I have a few dating experiences I would like to delete, and rewind and do over again. I led such a sheltered teen life I might be just a bit more on the wild side:)
Thank you SO much for switching with me Lis!!
I have to agree with everyone that the blog was absolutely fabulous. I can't tell you how bad I felt asking you last minute to blog for me, but as always you shined.
And we all know I pillage from my own life. I take lessons from Hellion *ducking*
Thanks to Lis, I got 18,000 words written in three days. What can I say, I was on a roll. Well on a desk, in the shower, against the sofa... but you know how it goes. *grin*
Don't say you took lessons from me. That sounds like I'm a *full body shudder* teacher. Blech. Say: I took a page from Hellion's Tell-All Memoirs or something.
Terri is traveling. She was rooted out of her hotel at 10 am, and said she had to kill some time before the wee-one arrived. Said something about the Village Idiots (my words, not hers) probably wouldn't be on time to deliver the wee-one and she wasn't sure how to kill the time. I suggested Walmart. Always a sporting way to kill time. Plus you never know what new POTC product they have out this week.
Lord, Sin, 18,000 words? You make the rest of us look like slackers...Good job, mate! :)
Sin I had nothing to do with your ability to write 18,000 words. You had 10,000 words written over the weekend before blog time:)
You rock! You make me feel like a whiny loser...
Hellion is such an inspiration.
Yes, but if you didn't blog for me, I wouldn't have had it. So muchas besas darling.
I tell ya, a deadline does wonders for my fingers. LOL
Don't worry, I have a lot to work out and edit. I'm over the word limit. Big no no. LOL
Way to go Sin!! That's awesome! I'm ignorant though, what deadline are you working against? (Did I miss it while entertaining this weekend?)
And I just came from Walmart. I bought new slippers. Though I cut off the ridiculous bow that was on them. I hate bows.
Nope. I haven't been talking about it, so you didn't miss it babe. I'm writing for the Amber Heat contest. I know Ter is doing a different one but due right around the same time. Good luck Ter!
Wow, good luck, babe! You will share some once it's ready to go, yes?
Anything able to be entered into a contest called Amber Heat sounds like something I'd like to read.
Sorry I missed all the fun. Dipshit didn't show up until just after 3. Dumb ass. And the highway through the Smokeys was not pretty so I had to slow way down. Which means I just freaking got home. I'm going to be a freaking zombie at work tomorrow.
I already said freaking didn't I? Sorry, brain has shut down. I did learn a little something I'll share though. Never read a black moment right before having to deal with your biggest mistake then pile on major stress and exhaustion. I cried for half the trip. Damn SEP!
Oh, and I killed time in this great little antique store. Bought two old books. One looks like a romance published in 1910 by Myrtle Reed I think. It looked interesting so I'm looking forward to reading it.
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