Monday, September 26, 2011

Allowing Your Imagination To Run Wild

I can’t remember a time when I was little and writing a story that I simply stopped writing because I was out of ideas. The quality of my writing never crossed my mind either. To me, writing was fun… it was almost like playing Barbies, except it was with a pencil and a paper. It was magical, being able to go anywhere and create anything just by having a pencil in my hand. But the older a person gets, the less imaginative they tend to become. Adults just don't imagine the same endless possibilities in playing with a toy train that a five-year-old would. I can’t imagine why… (no pun intended).

There are a lot of lessons we can learn from kids. One lesson in particular that writers can learn from kids is their willingness to allow their imagination to run wild.

Yes, willingness. Because once you get older, you don’t allow your imagination to run wild anymore. However, this can't be the case if you ever plan on having your name in print one day. As writers, we need to continuously have our imaginations running… just like when we were five. And yes, even when we’re not writing.

One of the main causes of writer’s block is from not letting your imagination to flow. It isn't possible to write a story if you lack imagination. I think sometimes writers tend to view writing as a job, doing their best to write without error. However, doing this can hinder your imagination and your true writing ability because you begin to see your story through critical eyes rather than imaginative eyes. While you write, keep your imaginative eyes on. Don’t use your critical eyes until you have reached the editing stage.

Let's learn a lesson from the five-year-old who would have his train jump the track to make his play more exciting before he would ever allow himself to get going around in circles, never venturing to new and more exciting territory. Begin viewing situations and places around you from a writer’s eye and take advantage of every opportunity you have to allow your imagination to run wild.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Update & Lovely Blog Award



First of all, I would like to apologize for the lack of update recently! I started my senior year a month ago and apparently my teachers don't think we should have a life outside of school.

Just to update you all with my writing, my debut YA Christian fiction novel, Purple Moon, is still planned to be released next spring. I am currently working on the edits with this manuscript and will begin promotion for it probably in late fall/early winter. I am very, very excited to say the least!

Anyway, I would like to thank Faye at Labor Not In Vain for giving me the Lovely Blog Award. =)

There are 2 rules you must follow to accept this award:

Rule #1 - Tell 7 facts about yourself
Rule #2 - Pass the award on to 15 "lovely blogs"

Random Things About Me:

1. I have a six month old Shihtzu puppy named after a character in my book.
2. I only have to go to school for four hours each day since it's my senior year. =)
3. I've been in love with coffee, writing, and reading since I was a toddler.
4. I got my nose pierced a few months ago.
5. My boyfriend and I got "married" when we were toddlers thanks to my older sisters. =)
6. A lot of things that occurred in my novel has happened to me this past year. It's actually kind of strange since it seems as if it should be the opposite...
7. I could never get tired of listening to Taylor Swift.


The honorees, (in no particular order)...

1. Katie at HEllo HighLIGHTS

2. Monica at Fearless

3. Valerie Lynn at Joyful Passion For Jesus

4. Emii at Girlz 4 God

5. Katie at Whisperings Of The Pen

6. Georgianna at Before My Penn Has Gleaned

7. Hannah at Irrelevant Beautiful Happenings

8. Annie at Lilly For Rest

9. Jeremy at The Storms Within

10. Beth at In Word

11. Shelley at Being Shelley

12. Chelsea at Yours Forever

13. Sierra at Keep Growing Beautiful

14. Anna at Insanity Comes Naturally

15. Sylvi at Luv True Beauty


So to claim you award all you have to do is follow these 2 rules and post a link to your blog post about the Lovely Blog Award in the the comment form below :)