jenjoy

Horror Writers Association, Bram Stoker Weekend

The Horror Writers Association held their annual Stoker Award Weekend in lovely Burbank California from June 12-14, 2009.   Since they were having it in my own backyard, I decided to take advantage of the situation and see what goes on at these conferences.

I volunteered my time so I could have access to various workshops and would have a chance to mingle and meet people.  The word horror brings up connotations of mythical creatures from the dark recesses of one's mind and I thought perhaps this group of writers would embody the very things they created but nothing could be further from the truth.  I found them to be generous, kind and friendly.

Along with making some new friends and learning about the publishing world, I was able to pitch my novel  to Don D'Auria, Executive Editor of Leisure Books.   I was pleased when he told me he was interested in the idea and wanted me to keep in touch with him during the writing process.  I guess I am on the right track with it.  Now I'd better get to writing it, huh?

One of the highlights of the weekend was getting up close and personal with John Farris.  Mr. Farris is probably most famous for his novel, THE FURY.  He is a diminutive man, soft spoken, well dressed in kakahis and a polo,  always with a gentle smile. 

Jen and John Farris.

It was a very successful weekend and I look forward to seeing my new friends at future writing conferences.  The next one is Killercon in Las Vegas, NV at the beginning of September. 

Follow Up on Reading and Writing

Well.  I'd like to report that I got up at 7A every day, meditated, walked then worked on my short story.
In fact, I finished my short story and started on another one.  And I read four books.  And there is now peace in the middle east.

The reality is I woke up around 8:30A, stumbled out of bed, listening to the rare sound of Southern California raindrops on my balcony (all week long), and curled up on my couch under my nice soft red throw with the tv on.

But its not all bad news.   I did meditate, and when it was sunny I walked and I did do some writing.
I have over 1500 words on my short story.  I think I am about halfway done with it.   I finished reading
the latest Alex Cross Mystery by James Patterson and started reading The Associate by John Grisham.
And I did read four chapters in Buddhism Without Belief.  I also read 11 chapters in the required reading for my Voice and Viewpoint Class.

I will keep plugging away at it, hoping to establish some new routines that embrace my creativity.

Keep wishing me luck.

Writing Class

I love writing classes.  I think its because I never took any kind of writing in school and it gives me concrete goals and assignments.  In the past I have taken classes online through UCLA Extension
and www.writers.com.   This new class is through Writer's Digest at www.writersonlineworkshops.com.

Its a six week class on voice and viewpoint.  All the other classes I have taken are general writing classes but I felt I needed to strengthen the depth of my writing and, quite frankly, viewpoint confuses me. 

Another thing I like about online classes are the variety of people in class.  There are only four of us in this class.  Abeer, who is from Saudi Arabia but living in Cairo (I think Abeer is a girl), Rhonette who lives in Trinidad and Topago and Shawna who is here in Southern California. 

Maybe I'll post a class assignment in the next few weeks.

Reading and Writing

Reading and Writing

I talk and think about writing more than I actually write.  Why is that?  Why have I mentally made writing a priority, yet don’t do it.  I think the reason is two-fold.  

My friend Nate says that most writers don’t like the actual writing process but like having written.  I find this to be true for me, most of the time.  Sitting down, putting pencil to paper (or rather fingers to keypad) and manifesting my thoughts and story visions into words is very difficult, almost painful.  At least in the beginning, but then the words start to flow and it almost becomes meditative.  Yet, I find myself easily distracted.  Taking breaks to check my email, play with the cats, do a minor chore.  As if I can’t let totally let myself go to that place.

Which brings me to the second reason.  As much as I say writing is painful I love it.  I want to do it.  It brings me great pleasure.  That in itself drops it down the priority list of “things to do”.   It seems that I have taught myself not to allow the things I love to be top of the priority list.  Instead I have to accomplish the chores, projects, household maintenance, before doing the things I love, crave, cherish.  While I am trying to write (or read, because this second part pertains to reading too) my mind wanders to the unloaded dishwasher, the pile of mail, the dirty litter box (okay, that one should take priority as it sits in my office and the smell alone will distract me), the bedroom wall I’d like to repaint, the clutter on my balcony.  The list is endless.  They don’t make the stories in my head go away, they just shout louder, drowning them out.

I’ve gotten a lot of responses to my blog about Stephen King’s book, On Writing.  But I feel that I haven’t lived up to the promise I made myself when I wrote that blog.  So, I am trying again.  Starting of Ground Hogs Day (Feb 2) for one week I will do the following:

7A  Wake up
Meditate for ten minutes and read one chapter in Buddhism without Belief
Write for a minimum of an hour
Take a 20 minute walk around my neighborhood
Read my fiction book anytime I want
Disregard my to do list
Limit my TV time

Lets call is an experiment.  I will report back to you on Monday, February 9.

Wish me luck.