Since finishing the first draft of my current WIP (cue shooting confetti into the air), I have not been writing for the last few days. It has been 1. A RELIEF and 2. A GIANT STRUGGLE.
The first one, because writing a book can be a lot of work. I did the math and calculated (extremely roughly, being that math is from the devil and I am terrible at it) that I probably spent about 360 hours writing my first draft. That's 9 full-time work weeks.
And the second one, because I REALLY love my WIP. Like...when I think about certain scenes, I just want to read them so badly and tweak them to make them better and just...find the meaning in it all; this pile of words I've written. But I've refrained, because that's what Stephen King and Ksenia Anske say to do, and they know MUCH better than I about how to be successful with this writing business.
So I got to thinking the last few days about how I could "prepare" myself for the second draft of my book. Reading a lot of inspiring material, certainly, but I want it to go further. I want to remember all of the inspiring material that's stuck in my brain over the years, movie scenes and songs and places I've visited that just...SPOKE TO ME. I think that filling my mind with those memories, and pondering why they stuck, is going to prepare me for writing a second draft that's infused with the themes, scenes, and feelings that I MYSELF have been drawn to. And I think that to write the best book YOU can, this is something you should consider as well. So here are my inspirations, to explain what I mean:
The first one, because writing a book can be a lot of work. I did the math and calculated (extremely roughly, being that math is from the devil and I am terrible at it) that I probably spent about 360 hours writing my first draft. That's 9 full-time work weeks.
And the second one, because I REALLY love my WIP. Like...when I think about certain scenes, I just want to read them so badly and tweak them to make them better and just...find the meaning in it all; this pile of words I've written. But I've refrained, because that's what Stephen King and Ksenia Anske say to do, and they know MUCH better than I about how to be successful with this writing business.
So I got to thinking the last few days about how I could "prepare" myself for the second draft of my book. Reading a lot of inspiring material, certainly, but I want it to go further. I want to remember all of the inspiring material that's stuck in my brain over the years, movie scenes and songs and places I've visited that just...SPOKE TO ME. I think that filling my mind with those memories, and pondering why they stuck, is going to prepare me for writing a second draft that's infused with the themes, scenes, and feelings that I MYSELF have been drawn to. And I think that to write the best book YOU can, this is something you should consider as well. So here are my inspirations, to explain what I mean:
MOVIE/BOOK:
Ella Enchanted/Ever After-This Cinderella story has resonated with me since I was a child. In the book, Ella endures a terrible youth and yet prevails by being clever and independent.
In the movie, Drew Barrymore plays a strong female lead character who doesn't need a man's protection. In fact, during a scene with some barbaric gypsies, SHE saves THE PRINCE. Yet she is a lady; she is beautiful, and soft at times.
This sort of female character has always inspired me (and countless others)--a woman who can be both strong AND feminine. She is no Bella Swan, swooning over her protector.
My current MC is an interesting one, because in the beginning of the book I have her starting out WITH an intense need to be loved by a man (her arranged-marriage husband, who shuns her for reasons unknown). She is not strong; she is weak. She tries to use her sexuality to tempt him into loving her, resulting in further rejection and abusive behavior on his part.
But that is her story arc; over time she gets to a place of accepting herself, of not NEEDING a man to want her (doesn't nearly every girl go through that from age 14-23? I know I did).
I wanted her to become brave enough to stand up for what was right, because she'd had to learn self-reliance and self-acceptance in a cold, cruel world. Just like Ella in Ella Enchanted, and Drew Barrymore in Ever After. I feel that I am just portraying the transformation of my character from a victim to a triumphant person.
SONG:
Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.
For some reason, this song has spoken to me since it came out. When I hear it, I think of one word: REBELLION.
I imagine a group of people--the underdogs--fighting against an unfair force. Whether it be a government, an abusive partner, an illness, whatever. This song makes me FEEL SOMETHING, and that something is that I am a bad-ass. It makes me want to write, and it makes me want to write scenes that are meaningful.
-When I wrote my two love interests meeting for the first time, during an attack on the government when my MC was put into extreme danger, I listened to this song.
-When my MC rebelled against the government and her cruel husband, I listened to this.
-When the climax of my book began, and the secret motives of my villain were revealed as a massive airship attack took place mid-air over a forest...I listened to this.
ANYTIME I really wanted to feel something, and get inspired, this song played. And I suggest you find one or a few that have the same effect on you. Listen to them on repeat.
PLACE:
When I was 20, I studied abroad in Europe. I traveled to numerous countries, but the one that stuck out the most to me was probably the town of Cobh, Ireland. It was misty, dark, rainy. I could see the ocean from my (haunted) hotel's window in the bathroom, and I remember staring...staring out of that square of glass into the town's bay, imagining that I'd see a ghost ship breaking through the fog and straight toward me, carrying evils unknown.
That foreboding sense, and the completely visceral feeling that a place like that gave off--full of sadness, mystery, and secrets...that was inspiring to me.
It is the setting of the Forbidden Lands in my WIP--a place of evils that hide in the darkness, broken spirits, lost souls. It is the place my MC must travel to, if she wishes to save her companion.
What movies, songs, and places inspire YOU? Do they find their way into your WIP's, in some way or another?
If you don't know the answer right away to such a question, I implore you to search. Search within yourself, and your memories. What comes to you first? What is seared into your brain as if with a hot brand, something that has dug its claws into your hypothalamus and refuses to let go?
THOSE are the things you should focus on while you write. I truly can't believe that anything written with that kind of feeling from within you will be less than something you love.
Until next time, keep writing and keep dreaming!
Ella Enchanted/Ever After-This Cinderella story has resonated with me since I was a child. In the book, Ella endures a terrible youth and yet prevails by being clever and independent.
In the movie, Drew Barrymore plays a strong female lead character who doesn't need a man's protection. In fact, during a scene with some barbaric gypsies, SHE saves THE PRINCE. Yet she is a lady; she is beautiful, and soft at times.
This sort of female character has always inspired me (and countless others)--a woman who can be both strong AND feminine. She is no Bella Swan, swooning over her protector.
My current MC is an interesting one, because in the beginning of the book I have her starting out WITH an intense need to be loved by a man (her arranged-marriage husband, who shuns her for reasons unknown). She is not strong; she is weak. She tries to use her sexuality to tempt him into loving her, resulting in further rejection and abusive behavior on his part.
But that is her story arc; over time she gets to a place of accepting herself, of not NEEDING a man to want her (doesn't nearly every girl go through that from age 14-23? I know I did).
I wanted her to become brave enough to stand up for what was right, because she'd had to learn self-reliance and self-acceptance in a cold, cruel world. Just like Ella in Ella Enchanted, and Drew Barrymore in Ever After. I feel that I am just portraying the transformation of my character from a victim to a triumphant person.
SONG:
Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.
For some reason, this song has spoken to me since it came out. When I hear it, I think of one word: REBELLION.
I imagine a group of people--the underdogs--fighting against an unfair force. Whether it be a government, an abusive partner, an illness, whatever. This song makes me FEEL SOMETHING, and that something is that I am a bad-ass. It makes me want to write, and it makes me want to write scenes that are meaningful.
-When I wrote my two love interests meeting for the first time, during an attack on the government when my MC was put into extreme danger, I listened to this song.
-When my MC rebelled against the government and her cruel husband, I listened to this.
-When the climax of my book began, and the secret motives of my villain were revealed as a massive airship attack took place mid-air over a forest...I listened to this.
ANYTIME I really wanted to feel something, and get inspired, this song played. And I suggest you find one or a few that have the same effect on you. Listen to them on repeat.
PLACE:
When I was 20, I studied abroad in Europe. I traveled to numerous countries, but the one that stuck out the most to me was probably the town of Cobh, Ireland. It was misty, dark, rainy. I could see the ocean from my (haunted) hotel's window in the bathroom, and I remember staring...staring out of that square of glass into the town's bay, imagining that I'd see a ghost ship breaking through the fog and straight toward me, carrying evils unknown.
That foreboding sense, and the completely visceral feeling that a place like that gave off--full of sadness, mystery, and secrets...that was inspiring to me.
It is the setting of the Forbidden Lands in my WIP--a place of evils that hide in the darkness, broken spirits, lost souls. It is the place my MC must travel to, if she wishes to save her companion.
What movies, songs, and places inspire YOU? Do they find their way into your WIP's, in some way or another?
If you don't know the answer right away to such a question, I implore you to search. Search within yourself, and your memories. What comes to you first? What is seared into your brain as if with a hot brand, something that has dug its claws into your hypothalamus and refuses to let go?
THOSE are the things you should focus on while you write. I truly can't believe that anything written with that kind of feeling from within you will be less than something you love.
Until next time, keep writing and keep dreaming!
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