Get descriptive by getting out!

Get Descriptive by Getting Out!

So far, so good. No writers block. Just hindered by the time needed to sit in solid blocks to finish ideas, chapters and edit. Interruptions often cause me to lose my train of thought and then will lead to more time getting on track again. In the meantime, when I need a break; I look for inspiration. I have one part in the book where the characters are looking at parade floats. There is one float in particular that is a large lion made of all natural materials. So the grasses, brush, flowers, fruit, nuts, etc. The mane of the lion especially is beautiful. Made from soft looking long wispy desert grasses like these. I use the walk around the park to inspire the right descriptive words and then it's back to work.

 

 

In the beginning of my journey

In the beginning of writing.

I used my apple devices to write in Notes. Eventually I was able to format it like an actual book and see that I had 55 typed pages. But at the same time I had over 50 hand written pages, that needed edited and typed. Then with over 80 pages typed, I played with what the cover page would look like. Obviously an ominous nest of blue eggs makes no sense for this book. Since then I have added photos of parks and conferences. I believe I want a couple standing in park looking at each other. I guess well see! Stay tuned!!

 

My FIRST book from childhood

 

Babysitting Is Quite The Job

I found this in with my journals. It's a "book" I created called Babysitting Is Quite The Job. I nearly forgot all about it. But I was really into reading the Babysitters Adventure books and was a babysitter myself at 12 (1992). I wrote and illustrated this book based on those experiences. Only two chapters, 5 illustrations and 24 hand written pages long; I believe I finished this in only a couple weeks. I really did start thinking about my own book at an early age I guess. I am glad I found this. It defiantly made me smile! 

 

My first novel...

 

My first novel - the journey...

It started a long long time ago (see next blog) in what seems like a lifetime ago. I started writing as a child. I loved it. I wrote poetry and stories and would journal. My grandmother Thelma Wells loved to write poetry too. She began buying me journals for my birthday every year, since I was 10. I have finished at least one journal a year ever since. Making my grand total 37 journals and roughly 700,000 words. 

 

I loved writing letters too. I had extended family I would write too. But I was also suffered from dyslexia. Which made me struggle with reading and writing. So often I would receive negative feedback from my letters that contained many spelling and grammatical errors. I eventually kept most of my writings to myself. 

 

I started writing Parks and Recreation roughly when I was 23 (in 2004). It was a conscious decision to begin writing a fictional novel about the profession that I loved so much. I experienced many wonderful things and had lots of material to write about. I would write some pages here, some ideas there but had never put it all together. Much of this book is lightly based off the last 20 years. 

 

I finally had the guts about 3 years ago to put it all together and get the opinion of a publisher. Luckily, they saw a great potential and encouraged my come on board and finally finish my first novel. Shortly after that I began my second novel, also a romantic comedy only with a Christmas twist (work in progress: "Committed to Christmas").

 

So there you have it! My journey to my first novel. I hope you enjoy the parts I can share with you here and look forward to some feedback.