Day 81--the power 100

We've all heard, or said "It is what it is." What the phrase means to you may be different than to the person sitting next to you, but for the most part it's an expression of 'whatever' or 'f**k it'.

I saw a plaque in a catalog today that changes this negative phrase to a positive statement that speaks loudly to me as an author.

It is what it is...

But it will become what you make it.

So... what will your storytelling become?

Day 82--the power 100

Saturday was meeting day for Heartlandians and we had a great business session, then moved on to small group brainstorming. An excellent day all around.

Thanks to our word intern, we are now engaged in Writing Around the World in 80 Days. Combined with NaNoWriMo, this is going to increase our Heartlandian page count by leaps and bounds. How cool is that?

And speaking of NaNo... there are currently 10 Heartlandians signed up for the whole deal, and 2 for our groups MinNaNo (a committment to write 25,000 words during November's 30 days). That means, when we all reach our goals, we will have written over half a million words!

That's a heck of a lot of pages!

Photo credit: ppdigital from morguefile.com

Join us in our November efforts--let's keep cheering each other on to publishing success!

Day 83--the power 100

Okay, it's finally happened. The doubts, the 'am I crazy' thoughts. I mean, who do I think I am committing myself to blogging here every day for the last 100 days of 2010? Is there anybody out there really ever reading these things? Does anyone care about a bunch of scattered thoughts and odd writing prompts?

No matter how hard I beat these feelings back, I'm sure they'll return. Kind of like an internal editor. So, what do I do? Decide I've done my bit to try and get folks writing and slowly disappear into the woodwork? Or should I stamp my feet, throw a 'nobody cares' tantrum and storm off to find chocolate?


Photo credit: jusben from morguefile.com

Or... and this is the big or... should I continue on as I have been?

Choosing to write 100 words a day for 100 days is a committment. So is choosing to blog encouragement for those 100 days. Will I run out of things to say? Probably not. There's lots of life that can be related back to writing. And lots of writing to relate to life.

So I'm here to stay...at least for the next 82 days. And if you're here with me--happy writing!

Day 84--the power 100

I attended another food show a couple days ago--that's the joy of working with more than one distributor. But those distributors receive their products from the same manufacturers. So, there's a repeat of products--and company representatives. I'm always surprised to be remembered.

I had my show order book completed and wasn't really in the mood. So, why did I go? There's always a chance of discovering something new. And as I ambled along, refusing to taste yet another chicken product, I discovered something new! A multi-grain muffin mix that will fit perfectly in my school lunch program.

Even better than that, I had the chance to connect with a number of folks I worked with at my previous job. It was kinda like an old home week.


Photo credit: click from morguefile.com

Taking a writing challenge is a good way to stretch your writing muscles. But, if you look around, there's lots of challenges, prompts, things to try in your stretch. Sometimes, even when out plotting or brainstorming is done, we're really not in the mood. Wandering through the maze of possibilites, you might refuse to try another version of the same thing. (Like writing 100 words a day for 100 days.) But, you never know. You might discover something new about you and your writing. And that something might fit perfectly in your writing world.

And who knows. Maybe you'll even reconnect with a character or a part of your tale that was missing.

So write those 100 words today. On anything you want. Just write. Just do it anyway!

Day 85--the power 100

Today's From My Library...
The Pocket Muse--Endless inspiration, New Ideas for Writing  by Monica Wood

Today-Only

Writer's Special

Write what you don't know...

Day 86--the power 100

Noid, much loved lab/chow mix, was a big (literally) part of my family. Yep, he was the inspiration for Noid in my Keltic books. My bro took this picture, then after Noid crossed the rainbow bridge, made this colorful composite.

Take a close look at each picture. Isn't it interesting how different details or highlights show in each color? And each seems to reflect a different part of Noid's personality. I see the playfulness of the rolly polly pup he'd been (unbelievably, he was the runt of the litter), as well as the wisdom of age reflected in his nearly gray muzzle and face. The purple pulls me in the most, and makes me smile.

How does this relate to writing? Just as there are many ways of looking at a situation or a character, there's also much that colors our reactions. We often think of colors with emotions. Red is anger or power. Blue more calming. Purple is royal or spiritual. Yellow is cheery. Green is natural.

Try placing a character in a situation where a color stimulates a completely different reaction than we'd normally expect.

(Think Noid is a funny name? My bro got Noid from his boss when he worked for Dominos--long, long ago when their advertising icon was...the Noid.)

Day 87--the power 100

Your writing can provide a window into the lives of your characters. Sometimes the windows are wide open letting readers fully experience as the character experiences. Other times, the window is shut and the reader only observes as the story unfolds.

As romance authors, we strive to keep those windows open most of the time, letting the reader become the heroine--or hero. Letting the reader fall in love.

of course you've got a window prompt today... Put your character at a window. Open or closed? Looking in or out? What do they see, imagine, feel?



Photo credit: seemann from morguefile.com

day 88-the power 100

A recent book release brings us How To Survive A Garden Gnome Attack.
An interesting premise, don't you think?

So how about for today, your 100 words show the inexplicable menace in a seemingly neutal object.
(hmm, wonder if the gnomes are angry about the movie Gnomeo and Juliet?)

Day 89--the power 100

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday I mentioned folks who provide writing prompts for the rest of us. From my bookshelf:
The Write-Brain Workbook by bonnie neubauer. In this thick, write-in book, she has "366 exercises to liberate your writing". More than just those 366, there's also a 'take the next step' at the bottom of the page. These are thought provoking, one minute exercises to help you explore your personal writing processes. 

So, for today, here's a next step to explore for your 100 words. "Write about the second when you realized that writing was work but you loved it anyway. If this never happened to you, make it up." (From day 277) 

Day 90--the power 100

Ten days down. If you've written 100 words a day that's...wait, I don't have enough fingers!

Photo credit: grietgriet from morguefile.com

Oh, yeah, just add a zero to the 100. That makes 1000 words in short bursts in just a few days. Feels good, doesn't it?

And how many of us kept going after the initial 100 words, adding to that count? Ready to keep going? I am if you are!

Just curious...have any of you used a prompt from any of the power 100 blogs

 It's an interesting experience coming up with different possibilities.  There's many creative folks who have done just that...and provide hints and prompts for others to stimulate their writing. I'd love it if each of you created a prompt. Send one--or more--to me and I'll feature them as we continue counting down our creative days until the end of the year.

And that's your prompt for this grand Saturday. Create a prompt.