A Date With Flynn

Though Aladdin is my favorite Disney prince, I'm going to be unfaithful for this post. To give you an update on my progress with "These Wicked Waters," I'm making use of speed dating.

So, I've shown up at the restaurant and have sat down to wait for my date. Accordian music plays in the background.

Flynn shows up and takes a seat.

"Well, I finished TWW on February 17th with approximately 62,000 words. I've got my beta readers picked and now I'm working on doing some quick edits so the WIP is somewhat legible when they read it."

"Yeah! I'm pretty excited too. I'm giving my beta readers two months to read and comment. Meanwhile--a change of plan, actually--I'll plan my next book, "Fractured Stars." Or something like that. I'm still messing around with the title, but it's going to be a trilogy."

"Oh, you're making me blush! Quick outfit change, by the way. You did all that in the bathroom? --Ahem. Well, I've got some more editing to do, so I better go. Thanks for lunch! I'm a sucker for a good burger and onion rings."

"You're so sweet. Maybe I'll send you an autographed copy of TWW when/if it gets published. Though I need to snag an agent first..."

Themed Conditioner & Body Wash

Yeah, I know the title of this blog is weird. In fact, the subject is probably going to be weird too. I know my sister thinks I'm weird for doing what I do.

I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me actually tell you what I do...er, have done.

My WIP, "These Wicked Waters," is set during summer on an island resort. Which means, of course, sand, ocean, sun, etc.

Well, when I was knee-deep in the planning stages of my book, I ran out of conditioner and body wash.

Hello, trip to Target! For girls, choosing the perfect conditioner/body wash is a major undertaking. Unless a girl has a go-to favorite, she ends up wandering the aisle and doing a lot of sniffing. I take one of my sisters with me on these kind of trips so I have a reliable second opinion in the sniffing department.

As I browsed the selections, I settled on Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Conditioner and St. Ives Body Wash Purifying Sea Salt.

Notice anything?

I also needed a new water bottle, and chose a Caribbean water colored one.

My sister claimed I was weird, and I honestly thought I was to... Until Monday. I've slowly been making my way through "craft" books. No, not arts and crafts, but writing craft books. The one I'm reading discussed ways to get into the right mindset to write a book. In black and white text I saw the writer admit to getting scented lotion that reminded her of a garden she would be writing about.

Immediately I read the line out to my sister and burst into haughty laughter.

And the full immersion definitely helps motivation and writing. I finished "These Wicked Waters," approximately 62,000 words, in 14 days.

So next time you run out of a conditioner, body wash, etc., consider themeing it up and buying a scent that reminds you of your book.

Unless of course your setting is in the sewers.

Vlog #6: Confessions of a Literal Reader

It's In the Name

You think my childhood confusion over Sauron and Sarumon would've taught me a lesson.

It took me twelve years to get the LORD OF THE RINGS villains straight--and sometimes I still get confused. Any writer will tell you to try to keep your character names varied in sound and length. Somehow while writing THESE WICKED WATERS, I forgot that.

Now I've got four characters with the following names:

Tamara

Tamar

Benny

Ben

Yeah, I really don't know what I was thinking while writing. Though these characters are worlds different to me and I can tell them apart, the same might not be said for a reader.

Alas, I'm going to have to do some switching around. If only I hadn't gotten so attached! Luckily baby names searches are my friend.

To the Internet I go!

That's Not Me

"Your main character is so much like you!"

                                         

...Say the people who know me personally and read my books. Well, when I started writing "These Wicked Waters" (TWW), I determined that Annie Mayfield would be nothing like me. Annie would be outgoing, athletic, adventurous, and a leap-before-thinking kind of girl. She would also tends to get herself stuck in very embarrassing situations for the sake of comedy. Situations I'll let you read about in the book.

Honestly, Annie and I couldn't be two bigger opposites. I like things planned and organized. I'm also about as athletic as a donut, though I do try to run (sorry, they don't have a gif for that).

I get mixed results.

                                        

Then yesterday happened, and I realized I was way more like Annie than I ever thought.

On Mondays, I take my sisters to college so they can be educated. I usually hang out and write until they're finished class. Usually this requires me bringing a lunch. Enter in a yummy rice stir fry. 

Except I forgot my fork.

                                

Fortunately there are YouTube videos instructing users how to make a paper spoon. Unfortunately I suck at origami.

Eating was a serious challenge and done in a super covert way so no one caught me jamming food into my mouth with a crinkled piece of paper. 

                                 

I thought this would be the pinnacle of a nasty Monday.

But then I accidentally walked into the men's bathroom. Oh, hey, urinals, you're not supposed to be there!

                                          

So, yeah. Apparently I'm way more like Annie than I thought. Unfortunately.

Yeah, Not Happening

Every week day I set a goal for myself: write 5,000 words. I've been doing awesome (if I do say so myself) keeping that word count. A week and a half of writing and 40,000 words! Talk about on a roll.

And then yesterday happened.

It was a struggle just to get my fingers to type. I worked through it, I did. I managed to get halfway to my goal, 2,500 words, before I quit.

At first I was aggravated at myself. I thought the following (plus many more):

"Emily, you're a full time writer. This is your job. You can't just not write."
"A week and a half of success and now this? You LOSER!"
"I really don't like you."
"You're a horrible person."

Yeah, my mind is a very volatile place to be. Then I sat down to write today. Let me just tell you... WOW! The words are flowing so much better, and I'm so much happier with my book.

Which is why there are times that you just need to stop. Whatever your doing, whether it be writing, studying, cleaning, whatever. Take a step back and a short break. The completion of a job is not worth a burnout and a less-than-optimum end product.

Nerd Status

As a kid I absolutely loved the show Sailor Moon.

I had tons of merchandise: dolls, scepters (except for the one my littlest sister broke--still mad!), manga, books, and VHS's. Then my mom did a purge and tossed everything. In her defense, I was growing up and didn't play with the dolls or anything else. In other words, I became a gross teenager. Now that I'm an adult I miss all my Sailor Moon stuff.

Now Sailor Moon Crystal is out and each episode makes me more nostalgic for my childhood, the only surviving item happened to be the wand below.

As you know, Valentine's Day is coming up...

So I bought myself a really old Sailor Moon doll. She needed a bit of a bath and a hair brushing, but the $20 was totally worth it.

Yeah, basically I've been taking her everywhere with me. It's amazing how little bits of your childhood stick with you wherever you go in life--22 and buying yourself a doll!

And how does this relate to writing, you ask? Well, it doesn't. Shh, I'm branching out.

Everything & Nothing

How much do you know about rock climbing?

                                    

Well, there's free climbing, bouldering, aid climbing...

And that's just the beginnings of my gatherings from Wikipedia. Have I ever been rock climbing? Um, once, in a mall. When I was like nine.

Why am I talking about rock climbing? There's a point, I promise.

"Jack of all trades and master of none" describes a writer pretty well--at least me. In my latest book I've had to learn about marine biology, Greek myths, rock climbing, and how the NIS (Greek version of the FBI) works. You could say I know a lot.

                                       

You could also say I'm not an expert.

To write a realistic book, writers need to know the height and depth of their subject matter. Some of the famous (wealthy!) ones can even travel to the location of their story. How much would I like to travel so a resort island right now? VERY BADLY.

Unfortunately, for me, the Internet will have to do. 

                                        

Although most writers don't get the chance to become experts on the ins and outs of each of their character's passions, we make great dinner party conversationalists. When you can get us to leave our house, anyway.

Times Are Changing

After six months of waiting, I'm finally, finally, FINALLY a full time writer!

Why six months? Well let me give you a little back story.

Back in July I made the decision that payroll (my job at the time) was not for me. I've never had a good relationship with numbers, and I felt like my imagination was being stifled by the 1's, 2's, and 3's of salaries and bonuses. I went to my boss and gave her my notice for the end of July.

Except she needed me to stay a little longer to train my replacement. Long story short, I ended up staying until January 30. Six months.

But that's all in the past. I'm officially a writer. And only a writer. I even changed my employment on Facebook. That makes it doubly official...

I know not everyone can be a full time writer, and I'm aware how blessed I am. I'm 22, I live at home, and have parents who support my writing. It's wonderful and amazing and inspires me to work harder to perfect my craft.

So, here's to a new adventure lying before me.

"Hi, my name's Emily Layne, and I'm a writer."