starting over

So 832 words in 6 days is pathetic. I just could not get inspired to write. So i'm selling out. I picked up on one of my fanfic's I had wrote over the summer. Already I have over 1600 words (double--woohoo) and I have only been writing for a couple of hours and only have one chapter done. A good start. I originally wanted to write a "real" novel, but I guess I am just destined to write fanfic. Besides I get instant gratification by publishing the FF.net and stuff so cool beans.
Ok, for those that don't know me. Hi, my name is Jen and I love to write fanfic for That 70s Show. {Hi Jen.} I'm a huge Jackie/Hyde Shipper and all my stories (all 3 of them) have centered around them in some way. My first was called "It Was Only A Matter Of Time" and picked up where season 7 ended. The second was "Homecoming" and it started the same way, with the events at the end of season 7. But this one took a different direction from the first. Where as "Time" had the couple reunite just days after the last episode took place, "Homecoming" takes place 20 years in the future. The gang has grown up and all have kids of thier own. Hyde ran off and never spoke to anyone for 20 years and now he is back to make amends.
I really had fun writing it and adding in little details about the kids (which were my own original characters). But the whole time I kept thinking of certain scenes from the kids' POVs. I wanted to know what they were thinking about the events and had planned to at least add more details about their relationships into the original story (through Hyde's eyes, of course), but I had to end the story quickly because I was moving and was losing my internet. The girls at That 70's Fafic Archive would have been pissed, I think so I wrapped it up. I still don't like the ending, but haven't decided if I will change it.
Anyway. Homecoming, part 2, picks up right where "Homecoming" ended but from Steve's POV (Hyde and Jackie's son). I have only written the first chapter, but already I have ideas for others and a direction the story will go. Originally it was going to focus on Steve and Hyde's growing relationship and their similarities (along with Hyde and Jackie getting married--for all the Zennies out there, you know who you are), but after the first chapter I already have a twist to add in and I'm very excited.
The chapter deals mainly with Steve's feelings about his mother's relationship with Hyde, but underneath (if you ask me) is really a visual of Steve and Kate's (Eric and Donna's daughter) friendship. It also shows how Kate is a lot like her mother and is wise beyond her years. The two are already great friends and now Steve leans on her even more for support despite the fact that he is 5 years older then her.
I really enjoyed the first chapter and liked the flow. I usually think my writing is crap and flows like, well, crap, so that says a lot. It's probably still crap but Zennies don't care as long as the story is good (well some care, but...whatever). Already I'm getting a good feel for the characters. I don't usually spend time doing character studies and plotting out books and writing outlines. I just wing it. Probably explains why most of my stuff is no more then a few paragraphs long. But when it works, it so works. The last two fanfics were over 20,000 each and I didn't plan a single word. It pretty much was in my head already or just came to me.
Ok. So I'm feeling good and I'm writing. So what if it ain't ligit. I'm writing again. Now, I need to eat. Hmmmm, tacos.....

Title: Homecoming part 2 Chapters: 1 Wordcount: 1659 Days to go: 25

3 days...

a grand total of 832 words. And I did that the first day. It's not like I didn't want to sit down and write, but my loving husband wouldn't give up the computer for two days. He discovered online games and has been driving me nuts.
The sad part is, he is the one that is always telling me if I would just write a novel and sell it we will be set, lol. (He thinks it is that easy, but I guess everyone needs dreams). But when I actually want to sit down and write he won't let me use the computer because writing for a silly contest isn't as important as playing Age of Mythology online.
And on top of that I am still really sick. I woke up with an ear ache this morning. I couldn't even hear out of my left ear and my right side was pretty stuffed up. It is just my sinuses putting pressure on my ear canal again but damn--it hurts. I took some tylenol and it helped a little. I can hear again but it hurts everytime I cough.
Hopefully I can get some writing done soon, but I doubt it...

so it begins...

Just 45 minutes until the madness begins here on the East coast. I'm talking about NaNoWriMo, of course. I have barely thought about my story the last week or so and have no clue what I am writing about anymore. And I'm sick. My oldest dd brought this lovely cold home from school last week and now I am miserable. (So are the other two kids). I won't be doing any writing tonight. I can barely think straight right now.
Hopefully I will get some kind of writing done tomorrow at some time, but I doubt it. I don't like to write when I'm sick (or do much of anything really).
Good luck to all those other out there that are aiming for 50,000 by midnight November 30.

Some plot points

So, I had this horrible migraine earlier that left me incapacitated in bed after dinner, moaning in self-pity. But it gave me time to think. Once the sun set and the room got dark and my head was at peace (as long as I didn't move), I started going over possible plots for my novel.

First off I had to rethink my POV. I had originally thought of doing it from the "mom" POV of Sue since I can relate best and she is mostly based on me. But I started thinking seeing the fun-loving life of Lori through Lori's eyes might be more interesting. So I laid in bed thinking about possible events from each prospective. Now eventually Kasey is going to fall in love with both. How would Sue handle the situation?

She would be worried about how Lori would feel and is very caring so might not take to the advances right away. She is also absurdly lonely so she would be kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place--her friend's happiness over her own. Would she try to have a secret romance or tell Lori that her boyfriend is a cheating jerk? Would she be able to live with herself if she did choose to be with Kasey?

Now, how would Lori handle things?
She would obviously be outraged that her best friend stole her boyfriend and unwilling to listen to the reasons behind it all. Would she never speak to Sue again? Likely that would devestate Sue.

In the end I preferred Lori's POV, seeing her struggle with her inner demons. So, I guess I will stick with her.

As for plot points. Firstly, I decided to link the whole story with the idea of the changing seasons, mostly fall and starting in October. So I thought I would start by a little description of how the season change and bring a change in each person, whether it is noticed or not.

I have an ending scene already in my head. The two women will be sitting on thier stoop holding their new babies and considering what had happened over the last year and how they were able to overcome it all.

I'm not sure how I'm going to do the Kasey scenes. I don't want him coming off as an uncaring jerk, because he isn't. He is just lonely and confused and in the end he will leave both women. Not sure how that will happen. I also have his entrance scene plotted. The action will start with the two women sitting on their stoop (see the circle forming) the previous year talking about Kasey as he plays with Sue's children.

There were other things I had ideas for, but my head hurts too much to work them out right this moment.

story idea

Ok, so I thought of a potential story idea. It is actually a story I started over the summer before fanfic took over my life. I really didn't like what I had so I will re-work it.
The main character is Sue, married with 2 kids. Her best friend is Lori, a single girl that likes to have fun. (Kind of an opposites attrack thing going on). Anyway. Lori starts dating Kasey who she really likes and he kind of changes her ways (a little). Kasey really likes Lori and shows up a the apartment a lot but Lori is never home. Sue ends up going through a divorce and Kasey is more then willing to help her cope. You can see where this is leading.
I'm not really sure on any more major points after that. I tend to let the story unfold without me really knowing anything. Not the best way to write but it is usually how I do it. My inspiration is my best friend. She is awesome and always has an interesting story to tell me about one of her many "guy friends". I'm going to have to give her a call to get some more dirt, lol.
That is pretty much all I have right now. Just 15 days until hell begins.

Novel Writing Contest

I found this on another blog somewhere. NaNoWriMo
50,000 words in 30 days. Can it be done? We will see. I have no clue what I will write about yet. Writing begins November 1. I need a story idea quick. The longest thing I have ever writting was a fanfic over the summer. It was a little over 23,000 words. My goal is to at least reach 25,000.

The Lobster and the Man

Here is a sample of a story I wrote years ago. It is a flash story--or a very, very short story. Usually under 100 words. Try one yourself and post it in my comments if you like. They can be really hard. This was the only one I have ever written.

"The Lobster and the Man"

by J. Connelly (1999)

"I want to take you home."
"I wouldn't make a good friend."
"I don't want a friend."
"I'm not a good pet."
"Don't want a pet."
-Gulp. "What do you want?"
"Dinner."
"You wouldn't like me."
"You look pretty tasty."
He wrapped it up and took it home.
"I'm bland. There's no meat on me."
"You'll be enough for me."
Into the pot it went. After dinner the lobster sat back and smiled.
"Best damned man I ever ate."

Welcome

Welcome to my new journal on writing, or more specifically on my lack of writing. Do you suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?

I don't deal with it. I just don't write much, except for journal entries. I hope to post some of my finshed short stories and other rants about my inability to write anything coherent.