NaNoWriMo Facebook Event!

While it's not for everyone, NaNoWriMo is a great motivational tool for many authors. Forgotten Memories and As Fairydust Settles (soon-to-be-released) were products of NaNo. Possibly my favorite part of this writing challenge is the way authors unite and support one another. Who says writing is a solitary occupation?

(Okay, a lot of people say that.)

This year, Rivershore Books is hosting a NaNoWriMo event on Facebook. Not participating in NaNo? You're still welcome to join! It's meant to be a place of support for all authors.

Now, for a request. If you have a blog, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or any other social media account...would you consider sharing the URL and one of the below images with your followers? I'd love to see this event spread.

URL: https://www.facebook.com/events/1423309784554388/

Thank you!

Author Interview: Regina Doman

At the end of May, I had the pleasure of hosting author Regina Doman and her husband Andrew. Together they run a Catholic publishing company, Chesterton Press. It was a delight to learn from them and hear their insights on writing, publishing, and characters. Below is an interview with Regina.

Can you give short summaries of your books?

The Fairy Tale Novels

The Shadow of the Bear: The fairy tale: Snow White and Rose Red

In New York City, two very different sisters befriend a mysterious stranger on a mission, and in doing so endanger their lives.

Black as Night: The fairy tale: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Seven friars who work with the homeless in New York City take in a runaway girl, and become emeshed in a plot to destroy her.

Waking Rose: The fairy tale: Sleeping Beauty

When a vibrant young girl goes into a coma, the only person who can save her is a young man who thinks his problems exclude him from ever being a knight in shining armor.

Midnight Dancers: The fairy tale: The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Twelve sisters from a very strict family discover a way out of their house at night, and begin a dance with darkness, until a young soldier intervenes.

Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Cyberthieves: The fairy tale: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

When Alex's dad finds a mysterious website that leads to sudden wealth and murder, his reluctant girlfriend Kateri must solve the case.

Rapunzel Let Down: The fairy tale: Rapunzel

When the son of a conservative, pro-life senator meets the daughter of a hardcore feminist scientist, their summer romance leads to disaster.

What genre are your books?

Young Adult, contemporary fiction.

Who is your books' audience?

YA. The largest portion of fans are Christians who share my beliefs, but that's not true of all my fans.

What first inspired your books?

GK Chesterton when he wrote in Orthodoxy (paraphrase), "The modern novel is about an extraordinary man in a dull, mundane world, and his adventures are always dull...but the fairy tale makes the hero an ordinary boy in an extraordinary world." I wanted my fiction to have that magic.

How long have you been writing, and why did you start?

It's a lifelong obsession. Still not sure why I started. I'm not stopping, though.

Where do you write most often?

On the computer. I write most of my books in the kitchen surrounded by yelling kids.

What are your 'author quirks'?

Em. Maybe those around me know better. I do know my eyes glaze over when I'm really thick into a book.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Keep on doing it. Write sacrificially (when you'd rather be doing something else). It's the only way the thing gets done.

What do you do when you lack motivation?

Cry.

No, seriously, keep a schedule and make myself write something.

What do you most want your readers to know?

Hope.

That their actions have significance, and their lives have meaning.

Regina, Andrew, and Jansina

Author Interview: Gina Marinello-Sweeney

You may recognize Gina from her insightful guest post a few months back. Rivershore Books is thrilled to have been given an opportunity to publish her beautifully written novel, I Thirst. Today, we have an interview with the author.

Gina, can you give us a condensed summary of your book?

When Rebecca receives a mysterious note from an unknown source, she has no idea how it will change her life.

Twenty-year-old Rebecca Veritas is used to being different, but has never felt extraordinary. She is a Dreamer, living in a world of poetry intermixed with the antics of her eccentric best friend Adriana and unique family. When she meets Peter, a young student from Canada who seems somehow to understand her from the start, her perception changes. With "Intermission", the single word in that mysterious note, as inspiration, the two writers embark on an incredible journey to a new world in the form of a story that will ultimately parallel their own lives. Yet, as the story progresses, events remain ever more shrouded in mystery. When unexpected circumstances in the real world throw their lives in disarray, it will be up to Rebecca to find the true meaning of "Intermission" before the curtain closes on the final act.

Did you have a main inspiration?

It really all started with a snapshot of a scene that came to mind my freshman year of college. I envisioned the beginning of Chapter 18 (which will mean absolutely nothing to anyone right now), and it took off. The meaning of the scene--even the tone--and the purpose of the story were very different then. But the picture in my mind remained.

When I finally began to write the novel a year later, things changed. For a while, I discarded the idea that had originally inspired me. I suppose I was all too worried about it sounding cliché. Yet, once again, The Idea tapped persistently on my shoulder...and I finally gave in, telling myself that it was just an "experimental chapter". When an early reader declared that it was her favorite chapter, I realized that I needed to re-think my previous conceptions and actually pay attention to one of the themes in my own book...that something cannot be labeled as "cliché" if it has true meaning. It is my hope that now, about five and a half years after that first vision, it will come across that way to readers.

I Thirst was largely inspired by my understanding of relationships. I think that every writer cannot help but be a psychologist and sociologist in disguise. In order to write a believable character, a writer must get inside that character's head, figure out why he thinks the way he does, and study his interactions with others. Luckily for me, I have always been fascinated by introspection--the workings of the mind and analysis thereof--and human interactions. I tend to joke that I get a bit too analytical at times.

Yet, the most important influence on the relationships of I Thirst was not a psychological study, but my own personal experiences. I am the kind of person who feels things deeply (if, at times, quietly). In that regard, I could really relate to the main character in my novel, Rebecca. A Jane Austen quote may serve to describe her quite well: “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature.” Rebecca goes through most of her life with the belief that everyone--aside from, you know, the average, cold-hearted psychopath--cares as much as she does. She has a very loyal heart. I knew that, for the development of her character, she would have to come to terms with the fact that not everyone was like that after all. For a person like Rebecca, that is a shocking realization. Yet, it is equally important that she will find that she is not alone, that there are other "kindred spirits" of a like mind and heart.

The idea for "Intermission", the story within the main story, was sparked by...you guessed it, an intermission. I was sitting during the intermission in a play and the thought crossed my mind that that would make an interesting name of a story. The rest is history!

It seems every author has quirks when they write...what are yours?

Oh, goodness...I'm not sure if there is a pattern to my madness. I'm a pretty quirky individual--and consistently so--but, when it comes to writing, it seems like my quirks fluctuate based on the scene I'm working on and the current state of my mind. At times, I may write at the computer; in other circumstances, I feel more drawn to the pen. I might write right after an emotional experience or I may reflect days later on a beautiful moment in time. I usually like to write when no one else is around and it's quiet, but I have also had delightful writing sessions to instrumental music or while sitting next to a fellow writer, who is working on her own story. I like writing at odd hours...or, at least, accept it. I love the words "yet", "thus", and "indeed", yet, thus, and indeed, yet, thus, and indeed. I always have too many story ideas at once and can have difficulty deciding upon an object of focus, although it eventually waves frantically in my face, refusing to let me pay attention to its comrades. Then again, sometimes there's a compromise...and two of my stories become one.

I write in notebooks--of various sizes and colors--but random scraps of paper are, at times, grabbed more easily in moments of urgency. (Yes, we writers do take inspiration seriously.) While I may be inspired by the extraordinary, I am also inspired by the most random things in the most ordinary of settings...like the optometry department. (Yes, that is a real example.) Sometimes I "daydream" scenes for my stories before writing them down, but not always. When I do daydream, I often walk around the house in circles, causing my family to believe that I have gone completely insane. My listening skills also go down the drain when I am distracted by an idea. (Sorry, Mom.) I like writing with pens that are pretty, as superficial as that may sound, but sometimes I feel like I shouldn't waste them (as silly as that may sound) and tend to use your standard ball-point pen. I like cross-outs and slashes...and lots of them. Try reading a rough draft of mine; it's a maze...but, hey, there are arrows, which will likewise confuse you. (I suppose, however, that this is a good way to ward off the all-too-curious reader who wants to read a story before it's finished. Because, you know, writing is very secretive...even though most writers probably want to get published.) And I still don't know the answer to the age-long question...whether I love adverbs or adjectives more.

I have consistently found, though, that writing does not come as easily when beckoned. It may be wise to brain-storm, but the worst action that an individual may take is to force himself to write. Trying, thinking, too hard is not always ideal...especially with creative writing. I once advised a fellow writer, “You can’t force it to do anything...or it’s gonna laugh in your face,” that, “by thinking too hard, maybe the inspiration slips out of your brain”. As odd as that may sound, I find it to be true...from personal experience. In those moments where the right word doesn’t seem to materialize or a full-blown “writer’s block” occurs, I feel that it is best to take a step back. This step does not necessarily involve leaving the writing process entirely, but entering another dimension of it. The imagination can often be stirred by something that may closely resemble meditation...a time to think without thinking. Sometimes this may be accomplished by listening to music before writing...or gazing quietly at the sky above, as odd as that may sound. Perhaps that works best for me because it is compatible with my more poetic nature. I would say that I am a poet first, and a novelist second...but I won't because, you know, I'm trying to promote my novel. (Also, the poetry part was a hint.)

Do you have a favorite part of writing?

Ooh, that's a tough one. I love having an idea so persistent that I have to write it down, even if it's 2 a.m. I love that moment in which you keep writing and writing because you're on a roll and somehow the words just come (even if you have to edit some of them out later). I love getting to know my characters so well that I can't bear to say goodbye to them and, thus, determine to turn one book into a series. I love expressing myself through the written word...because it really is the way my heart and mind are translated. I love telling a story, both to myself and a small circle of family and friends...and, now, the world. Sorry for not answering your question...I can't pick just one!

What would you most like your readers to know about I Thirst?

Fred.

(No, seriously.)

Thank you, Gina!

Be watching for I Thirst on Amazon and in the Rivershore Books store this spring! We will, of course, announce it here as well.

Guest Blogger: Poetry

Today we have a guest blogger. I would like to introduce you all to a friend and talented poet, Cateri S.

---

Poetry

"From beginning to end

There is a time

When everything I say

Shall come out in rhyme"

I'm a poet. When I look about the world, the smallest thing can set off a twenty verse poem, that's not a lie, and I know it.
The way it captures the beauty, with imagery and analogies. Like comparing the petals of a flower
To the rain of an April shower.
A charm is there that isn't found
in regular prose
but in poems it abounds.
By this time you may have noticed that this whole post has been rhyming.
And that is the on purpose, not just a glitch of timing. ;)

I could think of no better way,
to talk about poetry,
than in this rhyming play.
But, to be a poem, it doesn't have to rhyme.
Just look at the next poem, I call it Lies:

A single crack in the glass

Growing slow and steady

Spreading through and weakening

from the outside in.

Until it becomes too much and shatters there before us.

Sweeping the pieces,

the broken thoughts.

Each piece falls through the fine sieve of truth

A single lie, exposed.

This, it has no word play.
But it's a poem, all the same.
More modern, yes that's true.
Powerful, and leaves an impression on me and you.
This is where analogies would come along.
See them used in poems, prose, and song.
Little ways of helping the image form in a mind.
Without them, we would be in such a bind.

Another form of Poetry,
which is the most fun one for me,
It's called a Limerick, you see.
Limericks often bring about
a smile that no one can put out.
Here is one I wrote today
About this site where this post shall lay:

There once was a blog online

That was so very fine

The interviews sweet

and posts so neat

The author is, simply, sublime!

As you can clearly tell,
limericks are so very swell!

Now a bit about the plan
That writing poems takes in hand.
Some people take hours
Or days to compose
A little poem or a line of prose.
Some will plan out each rhyme
And go about, just one line at a time.
Others race right through it all
And then re-write it until next fall.
I, on the odd side of things,
Race right through quite happily.
Rarely will I go back and re-do
A poem I have written, that's very true.
I prefer to let the rhymes
Form as the previous leaves my mind.
Then the poem is done in a flash,
And hardly will the verses clash.
That is how I write my poems,
But there's a different formula for prose
(Which I shan't delve into today)
Than writing a poem about a rose.

Before I take my leave and go
There is one more form to show.
Poems can tell stories and tales
About a life, or even about whales.

Take a look at this example.
The lines of story should be ample.
Forgive the length, it was needed
for the story to be completed.

Dear Baby

Hi my little baby, Mommy here

Today I got the best news of the year

That you are growing inside of me

I wonder what daddy will think, let's go see

Dear Baby, today you are two weeks old

Not very big yet, but that's foretold

Daddy says to tell you hi!

He's at work now, and I'm baking him a pie

Dear Baby, I heard the most precious sound

Your heart beating, nice and loud!

The doctors say you are doing great

You are so sweet, there's no debate

Dear Baby, now you've reached 8 weeks!

You're as big as my thumb, yet still pretty meek

Daddy and I saw you, too

The pictures are amazing, it's true

Dear Baby, we're picking out names!

Our friends and we agree, it's a fun game

So far the list is long

But we've nixed the name, "Ping-Pong"

Dear Baby, today it is Dad!

Mom and I are oh so glad

We saw your hands, and your tiny feet

I'll admit I cried, it was so sweet

Dear Baby, it's Mother and Father

We've decided you'll never be a bother

You are getting to be so big!

Mom and Dad almost danced a jig

Dear Baby, at 16 weeks old

You're moving around, are you being bold?

Today we painted your soon-to-be room

And Granny's making you a blanket, on her loom

Dear Baby, it's Daddy here

Mommy fell asleep, but no need to fear

Every night we'll sing you a song

Maybe one day you will sing along

Dear Baby, it's Mommy's night

I love you so much, and that's what's right

Daddy and I are waiting for the day

When we can all go to a park and play

Dear Baby, both of us now

You're getting closer every day now

We went to a baby shower

People gave us stuff like clothes and baby powder

Dear Baby, it's been 24 weeks!

Your room is almost ready, just a few more tweaks

We love you so very much, our little dear

We can't wait until you are here

Dear Baby, it's time to celebrate!

You came into this world at 2:58

Our little girl, so small and kind

We named you Rose Madeline! (Mad-a-line)

Dear Rose, tonight we brought you home

Our world is complete, we never want to roam

You are perfect and we are enjoying every minute of every day

Tonight we'll sit together and pray

And now to finish off this post,
I'll tell a little more
About why I love writing poetry most,
And don't worry, it shan't be a bore.

To me it's a means of expressing my feelings
In a way that is fairly appealing.
The way the words and imagery
Come together so wonderfully,
It's a marvel.
At least, a marvel to me.

Whether it's a tale of woe,
a lighthearted limerick, or
about some cookie dough,
I hope you enjoyed my whimsical way
Of talking about poems in rhyme.
It was fun the whole time
And I'll do it again, any day.

So, thank you for reading.
And that's my final say.

-Cateri S.
[all poems and quotes referenced are my own]

---

Cateri S. is currently a 10th grader and an avid poet. She began writing about a year and a half ago, as the result of a writing assignment for school. She aspires to become a published author at some point in her life. As of now, she is focusing on her poetry, intending to write a poem a day during the school year. In her free time, she enjoys: writing, reading, playing piano, cooking, spending time with family, staying active in the pro-life movement, and learning about her Catholic faith.

Grammar Day: Parentheses

Grammar is a tricky subject. With all the rules and exceptions, how can a person keep track? I can't answer that, but I can help with little pieces here and there.


Today's Topic: Parentheses


Ever since I learned how to use them, parentheses have had a special place in my grammar-loving heart. (Yes, I know I'm silly.)


Spelling: Parentheses refers to both (), while parenthesis refers to one (. Now you have some useless knowledge to share at your next party.


What's the point? Parentheses are used to separate additional information from the rest of a sentence or paragraph. I like to think of them as side-thoughts. They are connected to the topic, but not perfectly.

We went tubing (our boat sprung a leak) last week.

Punctuation: When the parentheses are part of the sentence, the period goes outside, no matter where the parentheses land.

I enjoyed the tour (mosquitoes and all).

When the parentheses are a separate sentence, the period goes inside.

She said she liked it okay. (Okay is her word for 'not at all'.)

It is almost always possible to avoid using parentheses. I use them in informal writing, but for many pieces I leave them out. This is, of course, personal preference.


I love to learn; let me know what I'm forgetting!

Have a grammatical question? Email me at Jansina@rivershorebooks.com to learn the answer--and have your question featured in an upcoming Grammar Day post! I'm here to help and encourage in any way I can.

Visit my website to learn more about me, my books, and my proofreading services, or join the Rivershore Books Writing Forum for support from fellow authors.

Still want more? Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter!

Behind-the-Scenes: Book Formats

My brother refers to my novels as never-ending projects, because when I say, "I finished my book," that's not the end of the publishing journey. All that means is that the writing and editing portion is done.


What else is there? Formatting. Oh, and more formatting.


Both my novels (Shrouded Jewels and Forgotten Memories) are available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover formats. By the time I'm actually done with a novel, I have reformatted it five different times. Six, if you count both hardcover versions--but those are (thankfully) very similar to each other.


Paper Size and Margins


Before I put even one word on paper, I adjust Word's normal settings to fit my book. Since I start with paperback, I change the size of the pages to 5 x 8, and adjust the margins according to CreateSpace's guidelines (for mine, .75 inside and at least .25 outside, top, and bottom). 


For hardcover I use Lulu, but if you find a cheaper option, please let me know! My goal is always to offer my books at the lowest possible price. The typical trade size of hardcover is 6 x 9, so that requires adjusting the page sizes once more. (I wait until the paperback version is finished to begin this.)


Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords (which will make your book available in various ebook formats, including PDF for computer viewing) require regular formatting: 8.5 x 11. That is Word's default size, so you may find that selecting the entire document (ctrl+a) and copy/pasting (ctrl+c, ctrl+v) into a Notepad, then copy/pasting into a new Word will be simplest. This will strip all the formatting, so if you rely on italicizing as I do, changing the size in the current document is better.


Fonts and Sizes 


The fonts and sizes are personal preference. The following is what I use:


Content: 10 pt, Bookman Old Style
Chapter Titles: 20 pt, Garamond, italicized
Title: 45 pt, Garamond, italicized
Title page, 'by': 16 pt, Garamond
Title page, author name: 20 pt, Garamond, italicized
Thank Yous (cover models and photographer): 10 pt, Bookman Old Style, italicized
Copyright Information: 9 pt, Bookman Old Style
Acknowledgments & Dedication: 10 pt, Bookman Old Style
Page Numbers: 14 pt, Garamond
Headings: 14 pt, Garamond, italicized

If you're skipping print, as many authors do, the fonts and sizes in ebooks do not transfer. Ebook readers often give the reader the option to change the font, color, and size to fit their own preferences. Stick to 12 pt, Times New Roman or another system font to avoid complications.

Section Breaks


Regardless which format you use, section breaks are important. These start new pages, and can change the headings and page numbers from one page to the next. They are a complex subject, and this post is already long, but there are helpful guides available on CreateSpace, Smashwords, Kindle, and Nook.


Page Numbers and Headings


Ebook formats do not have page numbers or headings, since devices don't read based on page.


Special to Ebooks


Since ebook formats are clickable, you'll want to create a linked Table of Contents. There are handy instructions for how on Smashwords, Kindle, and Nook.


What Formats Are There?


I said above I reformat my novels six times.

1. Paperback (CreateSpace--which is connected to Amazon)
2. Hardcover, casewrap (Lulu)
3. Hardcover, dust-jacket (Lulu. The only difference between this and 2 is that the author bio goes on the dust jacket instead of in the last pages of the book.)
4. Kindle (CreateSpace has a helpful link for this once your book is in paperback, but you can also access it directly on Amazon.)
5. Nook (Barnes & Noble)
6. All other ebook formats (Smashwords)

My belief is that the more options I can give readers, the better, but it's up to you how you'd like to do it.


Yes, it's a lot. No, it isn't never-ending. I am happy to say I am done, really and truly, with both my novels. You can be, too.


Not sure where to start? Read about why I chose CreateSpace.


Formatting can be frustrating. I'm always here to answer questions. If you're at the point of giving up, I would be happy to format your book for a small fee. Visit Rivershore Books to learn more, or email me for a personalized quote.

Grammar Day: Commas in Lists

Grammar is a tricky subject. With all the rules and exceptions, how can a person keep track? I can't answer that, but I can help with little pieces here and there.


Today's Topic: Commas in Lists


Commas are a complex subject, so there will be a series of posts on them. Today's will be short.


When writing a list of three or more items, commas should separate each item. As a rule, I use the Oxford comma (a comma before the 'and') to avoid possible confusion. 

Red, transparent, and blue.  

NOT: Red, transparent and blue.

How could that be confusing? Consider the meaning of the following sentences.

I'm inspired by my parents, Anne Frank, and Einstein. 

I'm inspired by my parents, Anne Frank and Einstein.

In the first, it's clear the author is inspired by four separate people. In the second...are Anne Frank and Einstein her parents? Unlikely, but in a more realistic example (My parents, Bob, and Mary) the confusion could arise if the second comma is missing.


Final Note: Lists of two do not need commas.

Red and blue. 

NOT: Red, and blue.

I love to learn; let me know what I'm forgetting!

Have a grammatical question? Email me at Jansina@rivershorebooks.com to learn the answer--and have your question featured in an upcoming Grammar Day post! I'm here to help and encourage in any way I can.

Visit my website to learn more about me, my books, and my proofreading services, or join the Rivershore Books Writing Forum for support from fellow authors.

Still want more? Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter!

Writing: The Inconvenience of a Passion

Today we have a guest blogger. I would like to introduce you all to a friend and fellow author, Gina Marinello-Sweeney.

---

            2:30 AM. 

            I rubbed my eyes.  Not now.  It is time to sleep.  But Inspiration tapped on my shoulder like a persistent two-year old, refusing to be ignored. 

            Oh well.  Giving into your child's every whim is bad parenting.  I may not be a parent yet, but I'm an elementary school teacher.  I know better.

            Inspiration threw a fit.

            Definitely not the time to give in.

            With a sigh that was quickly turning into quiet acceptance and a slowly-forming smile, I pushed aside the covers of my bed and moved towards the nearest pen . . .


            Inspiration tends to come at the most inconvenient times.  It is more likely that the idea for a story or the line of a poem will materialize at 2:30 AM as I lie awake at night than during the afternoon of a rather uneventful day.  Although it may be bothersome to get up when clear physical signals indicate that it is time for sleep, some of my best work can admittedly occur at such times as these.

            Even so, I may not completely trust myself at that hour.  I would prefer to look at my nightly ponderings the next day, to determine whether or not my work really was as good as it had seemed at the time.  Re-writing and re-writing is often important.  Yet the first spark of an idea may carry more weight than any re-write or revision. 

            The first moment must be right for it to work. 

            I have found that writing does not come as easily when beckoned.  The worst action that an individual may take is to force himself to write.  Trying, thinking, too hard is not always ideal . . . especially with creative writing.  I once advised my best friend, a fellow writer, “You can’t force it to do anything . . . or it’s gonna laugh in your face,” that, “by thinking too hard, maybe the inspiration slips out of your brain”.  As odd as that may sound, I find it to be true . . . from personal experience.  In those moments where the right word doesn’t seem to materialize or a full blown “writer’s block” occurs, I feel that it is best to take a step back.  This step does not necessarily involve leaving the writing process entirely, but entering another dimension of it.  The imagination can often be stirred by something that may closely resemble meditation . . . a time to think without thinking. 

            Once upon a time, a rather sleep-deprived college student happened to look up at the sky . . . and found herself completely mesmerized by the deep beauty, the profound truth, it held.  While she gazed at this curious, not-so-anomalous anomaly present every day of her life---yet, perhaps, rarely seen in its true quality---an inner peace formed in her heart.  When she later arrived at the library, feeling as if her four hours of sleep had magically duplicated, pen found its owner, and she wrote like she had never written before. 

            Perhaps this is because writing comes from deep within you.  Even with the unknown worlds of fantasy, my favorite genre, the world must not be foreign to you.  They signify what is important to you, what you are, whether you intend them to or not.  And what occurs before you write may often be just as important as what happens while you are writing.  For, perhaps, a sketch of it has already been written somewhere, in the depths of your mind, before you pick up that pen or use the keyboard. 

This ‘think, but also think without thinking’ theory of mine applies more to creative writing than essays and research papers.  Yet it may prove useful to a degree with formal papers.

Some of you may be students.  With school deadlines, it is often necessary to write at a given time.  Yet, even then, I find that it is best to move beyond yourself and the material world in which you live to produce the most genuine writing.  Effective writing is important, but genuine writing makes it yours. 


            Making it yours.

            I have noticed that I often tend to daydream when listening to music; it may call upon my imagination.  Like the "meditational" process described earlier, music may prove inspirational prior to writing and, at times, during the writing process.  For example, one day I was working on a scene from a story that involved a musical composition.  I found that the story of the piano music to which I listened made the story within my story, that of my character’s composition, more real.  Yet I generally prefer quiet while I’m writing . . . to think or, as it may be, to simply immerse myself in the process without thinking too hard. 

The reader might argue that all of this philosophical stuff is fine and good, but that there are still some simple answers to the writing process . . . like the physical action of actually typing, the use of a tool in order to write.  Straightforward and simple, right? 

            Not so.  There's still no simple answer, and the matter is no less mysterious.

            Sometimes I find it best to express myself by typing.  However, with the novel that I recently completed, I often found myself drawn to the more old fashioned way.  In the beginning and final stages, I wrote much of it on Microsoft Word.  Yet, "in the middle",  for some reason, my thoughts seemed to flow more naturally from the pen than the keyboard.  To contradict any possible pattern, the first rough draft of the first chapter, as well as the last, were also penned . . . with a pen. 

            Illogical and archaic, you say!  Indeed, cross-outs can result in a “mess,” but not all “messes” are unfortunate.  Outlines can, at times, prove useful in organizing one’s thoughts.  However, in most instances, I delve right into the writing, unsure as to where it may lead, . . . but that uncertainty makes it all the more fascinating.  Later, when I type up what I have written in my notebook, revisions that I had not foreseen often seem to “jump out” at me as if they had always been there. 

            The truth is . . . there are no rules to writing.  And what is true for me may not be true for you, and vice versa.

            As it is, this was written primarily in a word-processing document, not in a notebook.  However, I randomly decided to print it up . . . and covered it with a delightful mess.  Perhaps there is a ‘method to this madness’.  But, to me, it is a random array of glory, a moment of spontaneity.  This is the inconvenience of a passion, or, better said, The Passion, which I would never choose to relinquish.

            So, do you say yes to 2:30 AM?  You tell me . . .

            Oh, and, yeah, I was that sleep-deprived college student.

- Gina Marinello-Sweeney, around 2:30 AM

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Gina Marinello-Sweeney is a novelist and writer of short stories. As she awaits the publication of her first novel, she is at work on the sequel, as well as the first book in a fantasy series. She is also an avid poet in both the English and Spanish languages. In 2009, she was asked to present some of her Spanish poetry at an international literature conference in Costa Rica. Although unable to attend this event, a presentation of these poems was well received at a local university's Festival of Scholars that same year. Graduating summa cum laude, Gina completed a degree in liberal studies, an elementary school teaching credential, and a minor in Spanish. In her spare time, Gina enjoys producing videos, going to the beach, reading, and traveling.