Day 50 Assignment 26 Part 2: Talking it out

For this one I was supposed to analyze whether or not a scene would work better with verbal communication or body language.

I found that some scenes needed an actual dialogue while others worked better with just physical reactions.
For example:
Body Language: the little boy cried silently as he ran toward his mother's turned back. He grabbed ahold of the back of her shirt, but she spun around slapping his hands. She glared angrily down at him as if blaming him for her failed marriage. He stepped back his eyes wide with surprise and shock. Silently with his hands at his sides he watched her walk angrily away.

Dialogue: "Mommy!" he screamed, and chased after her with his hands stretched out. She turned angrily and grabbed his hands "I Don't Love You."
"But" the little boy whimpered
"I hate you" she snarled, pushing him away.
As he watched her get into the taxi he softly whispered "but I love you".

I'll let you decide which one works better for this scene, Body Language or Dialogue? :)
(also I know my dialogue isn't very strong. I didn't put a lot of work into that example...I'm super tired. But that is what happened in Aaron's past...needless to say he had a hard childhood) :(

Also a good thing to do is to make sure your dialogue doesn't sound corny (like a movie where the acting is awful and the dialogue feels forced or fake). So read it out loud, can you see or hear a real person saying it?


Good NIght

Day 50 completed

Day 49 Assignment 26 Part 1: Action

So I did this one yesterday, but I fell asleep while I was writing.
This assignment was about how to approach action scenes. You want the reader to be sucked in and forget they are sitting on the edge of their couch but instead dragging a man out of a car crash. The trick is to keep it short (detail wise), use descriptive or colorful words (explain exactly what you mean in as few words as possible), keep things moving (if your character is too focused on the crows or broken glass on the ground you may lose an important element), make sure you aren't leaving anything important out.

An action scene needs to leave the reader wanting resolve (calmness or peace) it's up to you whether they get it or not.


Day 49 completed (but blogged a bit late) ;)

Day 48 Assignment 26 Part 1:

Wooo so this one is super late! 0///0 haha ooops.
Anyways I'll write more about this one tomorrow since I'm gonna need two days for it.


I'm so tired so I'm gonna hit the hay okay? night :)

day 48 completed
assignment 26 part 1 to be continued.

Day 47 Assignment 25 Part 4: Theme

Okay well somehow I've gotten ahead again...the next assignment is supposed to start on day 50...Well I guess that is okay. But that doesn't mean I can take a day off.

Anyway theme has been fun to work on, because you have the few things you see but other people can take other parts of your story in a whole new way. Just because I purposely use one theme doesn't mean it is the only one. Often times there will be several themes you aren't even aware of until later.

But I don't think worrying about your theme is super important. I think what is more important is what you take away from the story so if your theme gives to your readers keep it, and make it stronger.


Night all!

Day 47 completed

Day 46 Assignment 25 Part 4: Theme

...I'm so tired! Sorry this one is going to be short. ;)
Just like me haha

anyways this was the last assignment for this week so I'm kept working on it and (I'm not really sure what I'm trying to say...) it's done.
see you all tomorrow!


GOODNIGHT!


Day 46 completed....

Day 45 Assignment 25 Part 4: Theme

Theme! So if it's greed don't just flat out say the theme is greed allude to it embed it in everything. Subtle is you friend on this one.

Goodness it is so late! I didn't realize how late it was...I've been writing all night. :)

I'm really struggling to stay awake so goodnight!

day 45 completed ^0^

Day 44 Assignment 25 Part 3: emotion

For this one I was supposed to show emotion in a scene not tell you what he is feeling.

For example:
Telling-- He was angry.
Showing-- (3rd Person) his ears and neck burned as he clenched his fists and jaw in anger.
                  (1st Person) A terrible ringing noise filled my ears, and a hot tingling sensation shot across my face. I am so angry I feel like punching the wall and screaming, but I don't. I just stand silent faking a sweet happy smile, but inside I'm fuming.



Emotion is important so don't let it fall flat.

Day 44 Completed.

Day 43 Assignment 25 Part 2: Beginning of the middle

For this assignment I was supposed to make sure I was using setting to help reveal my main character's emotions, mood, and thoughts/inner desires. Today was tough to find time to write since I woke up late, took my car to have the windshield replaced, and had the ward Halloween/fall party. It was a fun day, but not too fulfilling. I'm hoping and planning on tomorrow being a better day for writing and life in general.
I'm starting to fall back out of shape....I hate  it. I feel fat and chunky, and I can't tell other people how I am feeling because they immediately deny it. Not that anyone has ever seen me naked and can honestly say "you aren't pudgy at all" pft that is something only I can say. people are dumb. They are so concerned about feelings that they don't tell you the truth. They could at least acknowledge how you are feeling and support you. I want to be able to look myself in the mirror and say "I love who I am, I love how I look, and I honestly love my body". (I can say the first two but I want to be able to say  the last one. Honestly.) Maybe I'll make a new blog soon for that...Since it seems to be helping me stay on track with my writing. :)

I'm not fat, and I don't hate myself or my body. But I don't love my body, and that is something I want to change.

...Not sure how I got so sidetracked...haha as you can see I'm a little more open with my thoughts and feelings when I am tired.

I'm having trouble focusing so Goodnight! ;)

Day 43 Completed

Day 42 Assignment 25 Part 1: Beginning of the middle

For this assignment I was supposed to start with the last plot point of the beginning and write a scene where the main character is interacting with a minor character. Not too difficult and kind of fun. :)

I find myself deviating from the 90 day challenge's assignments and doing things my way...according to my mother I have been doing that since I was two, so not a shocker there.
Don't get me wrong I'm having a lot of fun writing and developing my story it's just that Sarah bless her heart goes super slow and keeps repeating things. I'm getting a little frustrated. I really needed her help though to stick to a schedule, and the book is really helping with that. Plus I do believe there is always something to be learned, for example I learned how to compose a character sketch. Which is something no one ever taught me, but I did make up my own character sketch process/outline before reading her book...what I learned was faster and a little easier.

I realize I don't write much....but I don't have much to say I mean I'm not talking to anyone in specific and I don't know if anyone actually reads this. Sorry I'm kind of lame. ;)

Have a good night!

Day 42 Completed

Day 41 Assignment 24 Part 3: middle of the beginning

So I realized that I am two days ahead of where I should be so I took another day to work on the beginning. I was having trouble so I went back and have been reworking things so that it flows better.
sorry I haven't been posting the process I've been busy so it's been hard to blog very much.


Day 41 completed

Day 40 Assignment 24 Part 3: middle of the beginning

Haha so this assignment I didn't realize that it was supposed to take three day...I thought I was behind, but that really helps because I needed the extra day.

So the speaker we went and listened to was Donald Davis. He talk about memories and when we want to remember something that happened the best way is to think of the place, then everything that happened there comes flooding back. He also talked about how writing is our first foreign language, and that writing can be tricky because you don't have the same advantages you have when you are telling a story in person.

Best advice I ever got was to keep learning, it is naïve to assume you know it all and can't continue to improve. (not sure who said it though) :)

Still working on the beginning, but up next....the Middle! :)

Goodnight!

Day 40 completed.

Day 39 Assignment 24 Part 3: middle of the beginning

Hey so I'm actually not quite done with this one, but I'm going to keep moving forward. Nothing is set in stone so if I don't like what I have later I can always fix it or even change it.
So I'm going to this storytelling/writing workshop it is so much fun, the guy who spoke today was funny and an amazing story teller. I'm so excited to hear him speak tomorrow too!

anyways good night, and I'll write more about the workshop tomorrow when it isn't so late. :)

Day 39 completed!

Day 38 Assignment 24 Part 3: middle of the beginning

so this one is going to take a little bit longer since this one is writing from the beginning of the book to the end of the beginning.
This part of the story should be setting up what is going to happen.

Well I'm still working on it so talk to you all later!

sorry I don't post very much...truth is I don't talk very much. I had a job over the summer in a call center and that was probably the most I have talked in a few years. It was a tough job for me and very out of my comfort zone, but I met some amazing people and make new friends. So I'm really glad I got to work there.


Day 38 Completed
Assignment 24 part 3 to be continued!

Day 37 Assignment 24 Part 2: Scene One

Sorry for the super late post today has been crazy. On the upside my room is now clean!
Anyways tonight's post is going to be short I'm really tired.

In the first scene or two you will want to introduce your main character, where he is, what year it is (if that is relevant), what kind of world it is (magic, knights, space), hint/flat out say what he wants, and hint/flat out say what is keeping him from getting it.


I'm starting to doze off, so good night!

Day 37 Completed :)

Day 36 Assignment 24 Part 1: The Hook, and the beginning

Hallelujah chorus! (by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

Today I got to work on the first couple of pages of my book! The main focus was the opening line. The first line is very important since that is what draws a reader in it "hooks" their attention.

I am so happy and excited to finally be working on my book! Haha if you couldn't tell by the Hallelujah chorus :)
Finally things are starting to look up and move along!


Day 36 COMPLETED!

Day 35 Assignment 23 Part 5: Eye Balling it, POV

So the Assignment today was to work on Point of View...again. Once more I am being asked to make sure the story is being told from the correct point of view.

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I am ripping out my hair! PLEASE JUST LET ME WORK ON MY BOOK AND STORY! I just wanna write. bleh!


Goodnight!

And a special message to Dani.... Alfalfa says thank you. Your purse made for a perfect meal.
Mwahahahahahahahahaha!

Day 35 Completed.

Day 34 Assignment 23 Part 4: Mind Reading

A life in the day of Aaron R. Mon-Fri
Alarm clock goes off. Wakes up. Unplugs alarm clock. Rolls over. Phone alarm goes off. takes battery out of phone. puts pillow over his head. cat climbs up on dresser. jumps out of bed to Avoid cat jumping on him with claws out. gets cat food. bathroom & shower. pour cereal. Eat while getting dressed. Avoid Stan and Frankie two of his more nosy neighbors. Run down three flights of stairs. Gets in his red car and speeds to the upper part of the city. College. Two O'clock drives home. climbs three flights of stairs. (showers if he didn't have time that morning). Eats lunch. Studies. Plays with cat...Torments cat. Five O'clock. Avoids neighbors. runs down three flights of stairs. Walks to work. One am. Walks home. Eats a snack (cereal most likely). Sets alarm and phone alarm. Studies, and cat curls up next to or on him. Bed.

Saturday and Sunday no work and no school. Studies. Sleeps. Relaxes. Goes for a walk through the city. Hangs out with friends (Gregory webbs, kid two flights down, or the guy at the end of the hall).


Aaron hates life, but he is determined to find something worth living for. There has to be something out there some reason for why he was born. He was brought into this world with a job and failed. He has been told that he does not deserve to be happy and that he took away all the happiness in his own home when he was born. He has no purpose, and he doesn't need to exist. The world would be better off without him. He doesn't want to believe it. He can't believe it. His Father must be wrong. There must be a way for him to find happiness, and reason for his existence.

That kind of describes what is going on inside of him. Outside he appears to be reserved, calm, distant, disconnected, doesn't seem to care about anything, hard, cold, serious, and unresponsive.

So in the end make sure you know your character's:
Physical Description
Physical State & Condition
Physical Strengths & Weaknesses
Mental State & Condition
Mental Strengths & Weaknesses
Emotional State & Condition
Emotional Strengths & Weaknesses
Views on life & Why
Background & History
Friends & Family
Important life experiences
Influences (Positive and Negative)
Likes & Dislikes
Habits (good & bad)
Love Interests
Love or Lust
Are they the Protector or the one being protected?
Positive/Negative
Attacker/Defender
Problem maker, Peace maker, or Passive?

Day 34 Completed.

Day 33 Assignment 23 Part 4: Mind Reading

So the assignment for today and tomorrow is to get inside your character's head. Become come the character. During the assignment you are not supposed to be yourself but your main character instead.

Some questions to answer as your character:
How do you sit? (do you have to move you leg or your fingers? do you cross your legs? what are you doing with your arms?)
What are you thinking about?
How do you see other people?
What is your opinion on life?
What is your default face? (What does your face look like when you space out or aren't making a face on purpose? For example my friend's is Angry, and mine is Bored)
If a crime were to happen in front of you (theft, harassment, etc.) what would you do?
Depending on how you were raised and your life experiences how do you behave? (around friends, family, and strangers)
How do you stand? (are your shoulders hunched? do you stand tall as if at attention? etc.)

these are just a few of the questions I came up with. I think with this one it's important to get creative.
Also I feel like this should have been with the earlier assignments for creating your characters and learning more about them.

Day 33 Completed.

Day 32 Assignment 23 Part 3: Background Checks

...

Yet another step backwards...I feel like I have already done this assignment.

In this Assignment you need to know the minor characters backgrounds and histories. You also need to make sure you know enough about your main characters.

I'm Bored.

Day 32 Completed.

Day 31 Assignment 23 Part 2: Sharply Particular Characters

So today's assignment was to practice introducing characters. No person is exactly the same, and it goes for characters too. If all your characters sound the same and act the same they will seem fake and the story will feel flat and boring.

To introduce a character:

• Make it feel real
• Make it believable. Make the reader believe that if they went to that Family Restaurant, or book store down the street they would meet your character.
• Don't spend too much time describing the character. That is boring.
• Make the character memorable. Maybe his eyes were dark and hateful, perhaps she had hair that looked like spaghetti. Either way make sure there is something that you can identify that specific character with that is worth remembering.
• Make sure the character isn't too perfect, imperfections are easier to identify with than perfection.

Tip: Think of a time you met someone new. What was it like? What happened? Memories are awesome material to draw from. No experience you have is worthless.

Day 31 Completed.

Day 30 Assignment 23 Part 1: You Are How You Look

In this one you revisit Assignment 10 and re evaluate what you wrote. Did you characters have new features that were "discovered"?
The assignment is to take each feature that was described and to write what that says about your character's personality or disposition.

For example:
Calloused Fingers: Plays Guitar, Plays often and for long periods of time, probably enjoys it, most likely has gotten pretty good at sight-reading or playing by ear, has a sense for beat and rhythm, stubborn, determined, doesn't like to fail, hates to lose, doesn't admit defeat easily.

You can kind of see what I'm saying.

So can I just say this feels like a step backwards. I was always taught to create a timeline and an outline (sometimes the outline was first) then to create a rough draft, then you go through you fix all the kinks and fix the flow. Then you pay attention to what makes is plausible and human reactions meaning would someone really react like this? Second draft-more editing and fixing up. Then possibly a third and fourth draft, but eventually you have a final draft....I don't get this whole do all this running around work before you even start writing a rough draft....
It's a different way to approach writing a novel, but I wish this assignment had been by assignment ten. Actually I wish all the assignments that had to do with each other had been put either in the same one or next to each other. It feels like I start to make progress and then turn around and go back to the beginning. I'm really starting to get tired of this method.


Day 30 Completed.

Day 29 Assignment 22 Part 4: Researching Your Fictional World

Wooo! So technically I'm not done with researching my world every time I think I'm almost done I think of more questions. I'm marking this one as done though since I have enough to be able to continue working on my story. This has been my favorite assignment. I love creating new worlds! :)

The LDS General Conference was AWESOME today, and I am so excited for tomorrow's sessions! :D

Days 27, 28, & 29 Completed!
Assignment 22 Parts 1-4 Completed.

Day 28 Assignment 22 Part 4: Researching Your Fictional World

Sorry I lost track of time, unfortunately I'm still working on researching more of my world. There is a lot that I had not thought of yet, and I want to make sure I'm being thorough enough. I don't want to hit a road block later because I failed to fill a hole in creating a world for my characters to exist in.

Day 27 & 28 To be continued.

Day 27 Assignment 22 Part 4: Researching Your Fictional World

Research! Every world fictional or non-fictional has a history. A few years ago I went to a youth writing conference they had the Authors of several popular books like Fable Haven come and give seminars on writing, and talk about important things they have learned. Paul Genesse (he wrote the Golden Cord) was my favorite speaker. He talked about how every world has their own superstitions and beliefs. You need to know what is happening politically, spiritually, and geographically to the people your character is apart of. The key to creating a world that is believable and plausible is knowing their beliefs, their fears, and the secrets of their worlds.

Some good questions to answer are:

• Is it a city, suburbs, or in the middle of nowhere?
• What is the year? 1700s or 3029?
• What kind of clothes do they wear? Corsets or perhaps Space Suits?
• What sort of environment is their city in? Mountains or by the Sea? Jungle or Dessert?
• What kind of Technology do they have? Floating lights and flying cars or peddle powered cars and torches?
• What kind of rules exist in their world/society?
• What do they believe in?
• What are their superstitions?
• What do they fear? Sea monsters or maybe the Vikings that live across the lake? The Vampire living next door with his skeleton cat?
• What are the dangers of their world? Are they terrorized by Dragons or is their city overrun with diseased zombie like humans?
• Has their country or people ever been in a war? Who was it with and why?
• Have their people ever been enslaved or enslaved others?
• What kind of planet is it?
• Does it have a moon? Does it have more than one moon?
• Does it have an ocean?
• What kind of animals are on the planet if it is different from Earth?
• Are there any other cities or people living on the planet?
• Are the people at the top of the food chain or are they hunted?
• What is the food like? Dragon meat or Hot dogs?
• Do your people believe in God?

You can see what I'm getting at if you "world" is different from Earth in any way you need to know How it is different, Why it is different, and What is different. You should know your fictional world as well as you know the world you live in.

Well this assignment is supposed to take two days so I'm going to keep working on it and keep asking questions until I know everything possible about Aaron's world.

See you all tomorrow! Good Night! :)

Day 26 Assignment 22 Part 3: Assessing Narrative Arch

Alright so I've finished Part three.

the book recommends looking at certain points: (I summarized things quite a bit and added a few of my own)

In the beginning:

• Does it start in the correct place?
• Is where you are starting interesting and important?
• Do you get a feel for who the main character is in the first couple of scenes?
• Do you know what motivates him and why?
• What does he want?
• Will the reader connect with the main character? Why should they connect with him?
• By the second or third scene can you see or start to see any obvious or inconspicuous conflicts starting to arise?
• Is my beginning interesting enough to make someone want to keep reading?
• When we reach the middle does my main character act on his own or is he forced to act?

Middle:

• What is keeping the main character from his goal?
• Is the conflict strong enough?
• Does the character's motivation make sense?
• where could you add more complications for the main character to make things more interesting?
• How do the events change him? Emotionally, Mentally, Physically, what changes him and why?
• How does his background and beliefs affect how he reacts to different things?
• What is the climax of the novel?
• What is his defining moment, his moment of truth?

End:

• Have any parts of the story been left unresolved?
• Do any minor characters need to be included in the end, do they need more explanation?
• Does your outline have enough material in it?
• Can you see how your main character has changed from beginning to end? (you should be able to see this in the outline before you finish the actual book)
• What kind of ending does your main character meet? Happy, sad, unresolved?
• Is the ending something you are going to be happy with?
• Do you plan on a sequel?

So this assignment really gets you thinking, and it was good to sit down and evaluate the story as a whole.
Also sorry for yesterdays um irritable post...It was a long day. ;)

Day 25 & 26 Completed

Day 25 Assignment 22 Part 3: Assessing Narrative Arch

I'm still working on it I'll post things soon. I'm running late; Deal with it.