What’s that FUNK?

By Cam

I want to talk about FUNK today. As in: “I’ve been in a funk and I don’t know WHYYYYY.” (NOT: “You smell like funk please take this bar of soap before my nose hairs erupt in flames.”)

You see, I have — what I think — is a really cool idea for my WIP. It’s a contemporary love story (except when it’s not), with a twist (no sparkly fangs or anything). I’ve talked it out with some writer friends, researched for about 3 months, roughly outlined the plot, and even wrote out random scenes that popped up in my head (NOTE: I’m a total linear writer and end up a confused mess if I write out of order, so this last bit was pretty much outside the norm for me).

That’s all fine and dandy. But what’s really frustrating special with this particular WIP, is that I’ve written well over 20 versions of my first chapter. All of them are completely different. As in, different setting, different circumstances, and in some cases, different POVs. I was partially blaming this OMG SO FRUSTRATING educational writing process on cancerous subplots. So I simplified those subplots and focused on the main story line. You’d think the problem would be resolved, yes?

Apparently not.  The main sticking point I had was with the inciting incident. I didn’t HAVE one, hence the spaghetti method of Chapter One Tryouts. I mean, I knew what key scenes I wanted, I knew my characters, I knew the ENDING…but that beginning was so freaking elusive! Like a cute boy who just won’t. make. the. first. move. I’m all about girl power, which is why I kept making the first move. But I think I was too aggressive. I think I ended up scaring off my own story. Can that happen? Can you scare off your story by being too pushy? I can’t shake the feeling that if I’d just backed off a teensy weensy bit, it would’ve all come whooshing out in a 70-80K document of literary perfection. The End.

Instead I’m banging my head against a cinder block wall going “WHY WON’T YOU COOPERATE WHY WHY WHY??????”

This. Is. Me. In a FUNK.

But what I’m experiencing isn’t just with my WIP — it’s with reading, critiquing, day-job-working, even SHOPPING. I can’t tell you how many books I’ve picked up over the last few weeks only to read a good 20-30 pages and then put it down. Not because they weren’t good — some were even freaking brilliant in those opening chapters — but because I’m just sorta like, Meh. About everything apparently. And this is so opposite from me. So opposite from how I usually am about EVERYTHING. I’m a Balls-to-the-Wall kind of girl. A Ready-to-Jump-Out-of-the-Plane kind of girl.

I’m not a Meh kind of girl.

I don’t really believe in writer’s block, but I don’t know what else to call this. Maybe my writer’s confidence has been ambushed? Maybe my brain needs a vacation (17 days until Punta Cana, but who’s counting?)? Maybe I need to put this idea to the side and work on a different one? Maybe I need some tips on how to de-FUNK myself?

So what about it? Have you ever been in a LIFE FUNK? How’d you get over it?

Tell the Truth Tuesday

By Cam

You know Lisa and Laura Roecker, yes? If you don’t, you should. They have a book out and are two of the funniest people on Twitter and the blogosphere. Now, I have to confess — I’ve never actually had a conversation with them…mainly because they’re waaaaay funnier than I am and I’m sort of deathly afraid they would give me a blank stare if I randomly started Twitter-laughing with them at an inside joke I’m not inside of. BUT, today will be different because Lisa and Laura are encouraging their blog followers to take part in a feature they do every Tuesday (one of my faves!) called TELL THE TRUTH TUESDAY. The blog title should be obvious enough, but if not then seriously what’s wrong with you, then read my true confessions and you’ll get the hint.

Also? Don’t forget to check out their blog and witness the hilarity yourself.

1. I’m in my 3rd week of P90X and for the most part, I’m doing okay with the nutrition portion of the plan…but I confess that every night after dinner, I tell my daughter her cookie fell on the floor so I can secretly lick the frosting off and not feel bad about it.
2. I wait until my husband’s around before turning on my netbook and heaving the most dramatic sigh ever and complaining about pop-up “virus notifications” so he won’t be surprised when I get an iPad 2 next month (thank you Uncle Sam!).
3. Sometimes when Toddler Trouble talks, she doesn’t pronounce the first letter of her words. I ask her to say grass and fast more than I should. So sue me.
4. We’re going to Punta Cana for a long weekend next month and *gasp* I don’t think I’m going to bring any books because I plan on camping it at the pool bar the whole time.
5. While I was writing this post I got a long overdue email rejection from a query I sent out in October.

What about you? What do you want to unload on this lovely Tuesday?

When it just….clicks.

By Cam

It was almost two years ago today when I started writing toward publication. At the time, I had just had my first baby and was fast approaching my 28th birthday, when all of a sudden, these magical thoughts started swimming in my head.

Who am I?

What am I doing?

Is this really me?

What if I forget myself?

There’s no time.

Never enough time.

But wait.

I’m still breathing.

There’s always time.

To allow me

to be ME.

And so I opened up my laptop, clicked on a new Word doc, and just started typing. I still remember that first story. It was a paranormal romance, something about a bodyguard to the Muses, banished to the “real world” by Aphrodite who ends up falling in love with a mortal woman who also happens to be a descendant of Aphrodite. Yeah. Not very original and full of plot holes left to right. I stutter-started three times, each effort worth about 100 pages before I realized the problem was too deep to be salvaged. BUT. I loved every minute of it. The writing. The discovery. The creation. For the first time, in a very long time, I felt 100% in control.

I know some people say you should write to your audience, to let others in, to give back, to get out a message, to entertain. But I disagree with this a little. I think the more important thing to remember is you need to write for YOU. Satisfy yourself first before worrying about satisfying a reader. If you don’t love what’s on the page, how will anyone else?

Today is my birthday and I feel like this is a full circle type moment. I can look back over the past two years and see what roads I’ve taken, what words I’ve written, what characters I’ve created. For me. And today, while getting hit with all sorts of epiphanies, I heard a song that sums up everything about my current WIP that I’ve been missing. I have this album. It’s a beautiful, haunting album. I encourage you to give it a listen on iTunes or YouTube or go to the closest music store and check it out because there are so many songs on it that say everything I want to say in a much simpler, purer way.

And yeah, I don’t really have a point to this post…just wanted to say it’s a pretty amazing feeling when things feel like they’re clicking into place. Sometimes it doesn’t take much. Sometimes it only takes a whisper of a melody to remind you what you set out to do.

Awesome Query Contest for you to CHECK OUT!

By Cam

So my writer friend, Monica B.W., is holding an AMAZING opportunity to get your query in front of some YA agents with a special ‘Stamp of Approval’.

If your manuscript is ready to go, is Young Adult, and you have a log-line ready, then head over to Monica’s blog and check it out! The contest ends at midnight tonight so GO GO GO!!!

In Which My Muscles Cry Mutiny

By Cam

So I got this crazy idea last week (as if that NEVER happens to me, right?) to make a more conscious effort of getting physically fit. You see, I’ve been feeling rather sluggish lately. And while it could be the weather or the late night writing sprints that are pushing my energy levels to the max, I realized it probably had more to do with diet and activity.

Truth is, for about 120 hours a week, I live a very sedentary lifestyle (this estimate includes time spent at my day job, writing at home, and sleeping). And while I wish I could be more active during my writing time, I’ve learned it’s pretty hard to type on the computer while running, biking, swimming, lifting weights, or really doing anything that involves more than wiggling my fingers at the keyboard. It’s also very easy to fall prey to late-night Sour Patch Watermelons, chocolate, and coffee.

So to combat this downward spiral, I started a new workout program on Saturday: P90X. It’s a monster of a program which will require me to commit to not only the workout regimen, but also the nutrition plan. I’m doing the Lean version so my first workout was with the Core Synergistics DVD. Let me tell you, I about DIED with a move called SUPERMAN BANANA:

Don’t let this silly name fool you!

The SUPERMAN BANANA is in no way a superhero nor a potassium-rich treat. No, no, my friends. This move took down my name and slapped me senseless, all while reminding me to stay hydrated. I was beyond sore the next day. But no rest for the wicked! On Sunday I did the Cardio workout and, again, SUPERMAN BANANA laughed in my face, along with his friend WACKY JUMPING JACK.

Anyway, I can honestly say that today, my body HATES me.

BUT.

I already feel more alert (although it could be the Motrin), and my muscles (although screaming like a little girl) are thanking me for using them again.

Now, I’m not promoting P90X or getting money from them or anything like that (and as a disclaimer, if you’re ever going to take up a fitness program, you might want to check in with your doctor first), but this program got me thinking more about writing and how SIMILAR it is to any kind of extreme fitness regimen (for obvious reasons, I’m using P90X as an example):

P90X is a 90-day program. You’ll see results if you commit to the fitness AND the nutrition side of the program.

Writing is a commitment. This isn’t a secret. But you can’t just slap some words on the page and call it day. You have to commit to both the writing AND the revisions if you want to see a cohesive story form.

P90X relies on something called “Muscle Confusion,” where essentially it’s mixing up the workouts every day to the point where your muscles don’t have a chance to plateau.

Writing uses a different kind of “Muscle Confusion,” where essentially your brain needs to be open to the unplanned actions of your characters so they don’t seem static or one-dimensional.

P90X offers 12 different kinds of workouts ranging from Yoga to Shoulders/Chest to Cardio to Abs to Kenpo (kickboxing-like moves). It concentrates on all the major muscle groups as well as elements you wouldn’t necessarily consider in a sweat-producing regimen for a package that’s fun, full of surprises, and complete.

Writing has loads of steps — outlining, drafting, revising, revising, revising, querying, etc. You have to concentrate on the macro elements to your story (story arch, character development, plot threads, etc.) as well as the “smaller” details (active words, tight sentences, grammar, formatting, etc.) for a package that’s fun, full of surprises, and complete.

If you cheat in P90X, you’re not going to get the results you set out to accomplish.

If you cheat in writing (sloppy writing, sending out queries before you’ve finished the MSS, not revising enough, not writing at all!), you’re not going to get the results you set out to accomplish.

P90X produces a lot of sweat and tears. It’s important to eat right, stay hydrated, and BREATHE or your body will cry mutiny.

Writing produces a lot of sweat and tears. It’s important to eat right, stay hydrated, and BREATHE or your body will say ” Screw you, fancy Writer Pants!”

Bottom line is this: You don’t get by easy. If you don’t put in the hard work with your story, characters, research, craft, etc., how do you expect to see results? The simple answer is: You don’t.

I’ll keep y’all posted with my P90X progress. I’m really hoping that in addition to toning my body, I’ll be toning my mind and increasing my stamina and overall energy level. And my writer’s goal is to write a book (at least the first draft and one round of revisions) within this 90-day time line. Hopefully I’ll make it to then…? WISH ME LUCK!