Update on my writing…

Im done… with a really really really ugly first rough draft, which I need to now walk away from for a few days, before jumping into the revising phase… It needs ALOT of revising!
So I'm taking the rest of July off and giving myself a few much needed days of vacation from writing =)

Quick Morning Post

I’ve hit the 42,000 words… and now I’m stuck. I managed to write 500 words this morning… which is a very low, sad number for me.

My problem is that I don’t like my narrative voice… and yes I know this is only my rough do be perfect, but I feel like what I have at the moment is just unacceptable. I need this voice to be just right, it needs that specraft, so it doesn’t have tial something or else the story will not work. The story also needs to be way more descriptive then what it currently is. And I also need a better flow. I know I can do this, but I guess I’m overly frustrated right now, so I’m going to stop for today…and try again tomorrow I guess. =(

Hey at least I’m not being one of those aspiring writers who writes something the first time and believe it is great! =) 

I will get this story right!  

So if you guys dont mind me asking…

What do you like as far as how a story is told and how the plots and scenes are described to by the narrator?

Comment below, or email me at jgladys5@gmail.com

Thanks,
Gladys

Update on my writing…

So the story is well on its way.

I’m still in the rough drafting phase of the book. But I’m so excited to start revising it’s hard to contain myself. As I fill more pages, and as I see my characters developing, I can’t believe how well on it’s way its going. =)

Some of the characters have been so fun and interesting to create. And the villain… my goodness, he is evil! I was honestly dreading writing anything involving him because I didn’t know if I could pull it off… but it turns out I didn’t even realize how manipulative he was until I re-read the opening chapter for part III of the novel. I was shocked, I think I even shed a tear (kidding) He really doesn’t play nice at all though. And I’m so excited to finally have my good characters defeat him at the end of all this… that is if I decide for it to have a happy ending… we’ll see I guess… =)

So anyways… that’s the update. Nothing too fascinating. =) 

What makes an amazing Hero?

Writing thought of the day:

Well, I feel that the hero (or main character) of a story should grow. Thats the most important element that all story tellers should keep in mind. I don’t mean grow as in age, but more so grow as in their personality. If a character starts off as a weak, shy person, they should end as a brave, sociable person. It makes for a better story, at least that is how I see it. I mean…we as real people never stay the same, so why should a character?

"What makes a villain, a villain?"

I’ve been watching the Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family, and well Lord Voldemort is freakishly ugly… and really evil. I know…ugly doesn’t make a villain, but just thought I’d throw that thought out there. 

Anyways… so watching Voldemort in action got me thinking about other villains. Whether we are referring to real life, a book, or a movie. Villains are everywhere. Scary huh?

So what makes a villain, a villain? And how important are they to a story’s structure?

Well, in the example of Voldemort he started off as a power hungry young wizard, who is ruthless and cared only for himself. He used people, killed them, and does everything he can to make sure he can never be defeated… thus sending Potter in an almost decade long adventure before he is finally killed.

A villain never falls with the first punch. Thats what I honestly believe makes a good villain. He is feared because he is hard to beat. 

So why is this important to a story’s structure? Well lets just think of it this way, if Harry Potter had fully defeated Voldemort the first time, when he was a baby… then we wouldn’t have any Harry Potter story, now would we? 

The Courage to lose Sight of the Shore

Soooo it is Thursday…

(just incase no one has noticed yet…lol)

And tomorrow is Friday, THEN AFTER IS THE WEEKEND!!!! And o.m.g. I sound like Rebecca Black naming the days of the week as if you guys didn’t already know!

Okay so I read this amazing inspiring quote today: 

“You can never cross the ocean, unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

It made me think about my writing, and my life in general. And how I’ve always been afraid of not seeing that “shoreline.” I’ve always preferred staying on known land rather then venturing out to see what I can discover, or see what I could achieve. My whole life I’ve always quit whatever I start, because of the fear I had about what other people would think, and because I’ve always been overly critical of myself. 

I debated on keeping this blog secret from people I know, like friends and family. Because I’m scared s**tless of being laughed at, judged, misunderstood, or thought to be dorky. I find it easier sometimes talking to…well the World Wide Web… Odd, huh?. 

BUT I want to try and be this Gladys for everyone. I want to be happy being me, showing everyone who I am…and hiding NOTHING. I want to share my experience with them too. Half the people I know don’t even know I’m currently writing a novel. I guess I wanted to keep it a secret until I finished… just incase I ended up quitting half way through… But thats not happening… The story I’m writing won’t let me quit, and has literally come to life… I cannot wait till I can share it with you guys. 

So today, I’m turning my back on that shoreline, and venturing out into my metaphorical ocean…in other words… I’m going to share my blog to them, and won’t worry about not knowing what they’ll think…

So my challenge for anyone reading this is: do something today or tomorrow… (or this weekend if you'd like) that you've always been hesitant about doing. Start that novel you’ve always wanted to write, go take that salsa class you’ve been afraid of taking, sing your song out loud… hell sing it really loud (even if you can’t sing. lol)

You only live once and if you stick to your shoreline… You’ll never really truly fully live. 

*Disclaimer… please don’t try anything dangerous. Results may vary.*wink*

Thanks for reading, =) 

Gladys

Oh and P.S. I’m officially on my halfway mark on my rough draft! 

Be ready. Get excited!!

Today, work went by pretty fast, so that was an upside.

But most importantly my writing is picking up pace. Which really really excites me! I’ve always written stories, but this one is the first I’m fully devoted to writing, and following through with. This is THE story. And I promise I’m not saying this just because it’s my story. 

I’m a dedicated reader, always have been. I love stories that stir emotions in me. I love reading stories where the author is not afraid to break my heart, or make me shed a few tears. I love when a story has twists and turns, where answers are left unanswered until a sequel comes out. I love cliff hangers! Love romance, passion, and for that dream guy to not be “oh so perfect” because come on... What guy is perfect?

So, loving these things one day I decided why not? Why not give it a shot at least, what do I really have to lose? Time…yes… but than again I’ll have this story written, even if it doesn’t go anywhere - which I doubt it won’t (I say confidently, not conceitedly.) 

So, internet world (that’s what I’m calling you for now… since I really don’t know if anybody is reading this)…who ever you are… be ready. get excited. Because I know I am… =)

Goodnight 

Gladys J.

Goodmorning! Blog world!

This is going to be a super quick five minute post, because I need to get ready for work. =(

Don’t get me wrong I love my job! (I’m a graphic designer at an Art Publishing studio)

But I really wish my three day weekend had not went by so fast! I have more writing I wanted to do! 

So call me nuts… I woke up at 5:30am… YES A.M!!!

I did some writing! I personally love writing early in the morning, with a good cup of coffee in the mix of it all of course! 

There is something oddly pleasing about waking up at 5:30 and starting off your day accomplishing something you are passionate about. 

When is your favorite time to write or read? And why? (comment below)

I’ll post something a bit more interesting to read tonight, or maybe tomorrow. Hopefully, someone out there is actually reading these blog posts and I’m not just writing to myself… how embarrassing would that be? lol

Thanks for reading! =)

Starting a blog… for the sake of starting a Blog?

Hola =)

My name is Gladys J., as you've probably noticed by the title of this blog.

I don’t exactly know what should be written in a blog… okay scratch that thought… I do know what is written in blogs. =)

I'm not starting a blog, for the simple sake of starting one. I do have a motive. Which is to get people to actually read my blog! I’m currently writing a YA SciFi Romance novel about… well I'll tell you guys more about it as I get closer to finishing. I guess I'm thinking of using this blog as a "super-not-private-diary" to record my journey in writing my first novel, because well... you only get to write a first novel once, right?

At the moment I’m about halfway done with the rough draft. And should be finishing it up by mid/late August. My goal is to have it completely finished by September/October and my hopeful release date, if I do decide to go in the self-publishing route, will be sometime after November but before 2012, because the world will end and we might not have any internet… just kidding. Truth is that I made a resolution in the beginning of the year to get this story down and to have people actually read it. =)

Wish me luck!