It's G's birthday in four days. So since I failed to finish Chapter 39 for last Wednesday, August 8th is my new, hopefully final deadline. I know, I know, I should be writing instead of updating on here. Shoot me.
I have a question for anyone who might happen upon this blog. Where do you get your writing inspiration? For me, it happens in all sorts of places and all sorts of times. I'll often get a good idea in the wee hours of the morning, on a short day trip (on which I have NOT brought a writing pad, of course, because I'm just that lucky), or in the shower. One of my most important subplots came up in the shower, actually, almost fully-formed.
But for the most part, my inspiration comes from music. I've always been that loser who makes soundtracks for her stories. Simply put, when I hear a song that reminds me of my novel in any way, it motivates me to write. When I hear a song that reminds me of a certain part or chapter, I want to write that part or chapter. I listen to music every waking moment, or at least almost.
Currently, I am quite in love with the new Black Eyed Peas hit "I Gotta Feeling". Mika's new "We Are Golden" is also a huge one for me right now (it certainly helps that Mom is Mika's hugest fan and basically stalks him). If we're talking long-term, though, Gordon Lightfoot's "Carefree Highway" is my personal favorite novel-fitting song. And those are just a few of the tunes that have inspired me over time.
What inspires you? What motivates you?
In other news, I have completed Chapter 36. Moving on. :)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Update before I watch Big Brother!
Big Brother is on in ten minutes (yay!), but seeing as I haven't posted in a few days now, I thought I would just drop it for a few moments and say hi.
So, hi!
As far as writing is concerned... progress could be worse, but it certainly could be better. In my defense, I've just completed three consecutive eight-hour shifts at work. Chapter 36 is almost done, which is wonderful, and really, all I care about at this point.
Yes, I failed to complete up to Chapter 40 for last Wednesday. Shoot me.
My Writing Friend A (WFA) is coming over to watch a couple episodes of Mental tomorrow, and afterwards, we shall head over to the Starbucks attached to work to get a bit of writing done. She is also in the process of writing a rather psychological novel. We were actually talking about the striking similarities our protagonists have today, and it's true - they do have a lot in common! G and her character are both male, mentally ill and not heterosexual (her character is gay and G is bisexual).
Since the day was extremely long at work (it was, after all, Sunday), WFA, WFB and I also made fun of diverse genre romance character names. Our favorite author is Katie McAllister, whose characters have highly amusing, unrealistic names like "Pia", "Drake", "Theondre", etc. Ironically enough, G also shares his name with a Katie McAllister cover-hottie. But his name is normal, and not Theondre-like. G's name is hardly worthy of a Katie McAllister novel, I say. Because of this, however, WFB predicted that my novel would, somewhere along the way, become a genre romance about sailors. I do agree that G would make an excellent sailor, but honestly, take me out back and shoot me dead if my novel ever becomes even somewhat reminiscent of a genre romance. To each his (or rather, her) own, but those books absolutely drive me up the wall.
Anyway, Big Brother's starting! So I have to go, but I will try to post again tomorrow!
So, hi!
As far as writing is concerned... progress could be worse, but it certainly could be better. In my defense, I've just completed three consecutive eight-hour shifts at work. Chapter 36 is almost done, which is wonderful, and really, all I care about at this point.
Yes, I failed to complete up to Chapter 40 for last Wednesday. Shoot me.
My Writing Friend A (WFA) is coming over to watch a couple episodes of Mental tomorrow, and afterwards, we shall head over to the Starbucks attached to work to get a bit of writing done. She is also in the process of writing a rather psychological novel. We were actually talking about the striking similarities our protagonists have today, and it's true - they do have a lot in common! G and her character are both male, mentally ill and not heterosexual (her character is gay and G is bisexual).
Since the day was extremely long at work (it was, after all, Sunday), WFA, WFB and I also made fun of diverse genre romance character names. Our favorite author is Katie McAllister, whose characters have highly amusing, unrealistic names like "Pia", "Drake", "Theondre", etc. Ironically enough, G also shares his name with a Katie McAllister cover-hottie. But his name is normal, and not Theondre-like. G's name is hardly worthy of a Katie McAllister novel, I say. Because of this, however, WFB predicted that my novel would, somewhere along the way, become a genre romance about sailors. I do agree that G would make an excellent sailor, but honestly, take me out back and shoot me dead if my novel ever becomes even somewhat reminiscent of a genre romance. To each his (or rather, her) own, but those books absolutely drive me up the wall.
Anyway, Big Brother's starting! So I have to go, but I will try to post again tomorrow!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Behold!
Allow me to introduce my cast of characters, who will undoubtedly be much talked about on this blog. Because I love them so. This is really just to avoid confusion (read: and because I love to talk about my characters), which would be completely inevitable should I not write up this post.
My Lovely Characters:
G - My beloved protagonist. The novel covers fifteen years of his life, from the age of five to twenty, and throughout these years he goes through many issues, from compulsive spending to "OMGWTF UR A JERK/BITCH!!1"-type confrontations. It might be a good idea to mention that G is profoundly gifted, and also that he is severely mentally ill. That last one is especially good to mention considering his mental illness is kind of the whole point of the story.
I - G's legal guardian. How she became his legal guardian is an immeasurably long story.
DR - G's psychiatrist. He dislikes the nearby psychiatric institution and wants it closed. He also dislikes G a little bit when G takes yet another immature fit along the lines of, "My life sucks and no one loves me."
C - G's psychologist, an expert in his disorder, who never, ever dislikes G no matter what his mood's like, who manages an entire therapy group of people like G twice a week for two hours, and who therefore has much, much more patience than I ever will.
J - G's love interest (love interest being the understatement of the year), who does not return his feelings and who is also a registered sociopath.
Y - One of G's three best friends.
Z - One of G's three best friends.
A - A young girl who lives in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, who appears to have absolutely nothing to do with this story but really, really does.
V - Said young Sackville girl's older brother.
S - G's twin sister. She has learning disabilities.
These are my most major characters. Other characters may come up in a post, but I will make sure to clearly label them and explain their role when and if they do.
My Lovely Characters:
G - My beloved protagonist. The novel covers fifteen years of his life, from the age of five to twenty, and throughout these years he goes through many issues, from compulsive spending to "OMGWTF UR A JERK/BITCH!!1"-type confrontations. It might be a good idea to mention that G is profoundly gifted, and also that he is severely mentally ill. That last one is especially good to mention considering his mental illness is kind of the whole point of the story.
I - G's legal guardian. How she became his legal guardian is an immeasurably long story.
DR - G's psychiatrist. He dislikes the nearby psychiatric institution and wants it closed. He also dislikes G a little bit when G takes yet another immature fit along the lines of, "My life sucks and no one loves me."
C - G's psychologist, an expert in his disorder, who never, ever dislikes G no matter what his mood's like, who manages an entire therapy group of people like G twice a week for two hours, and who therefore has much, much more patience than I ever will.
J - G's love interest (love interest being the understatement of the year), who does not return his feelings and who is also a registered sociopath.
Y - One of G's three best friends.
Z - One of G's three best friends.
A - A young girl who lives in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, who appears to have absolutely nothing to do with this story but really, really does.
V - Said young Sackville girl's older brother.
S - G's twin sister. She has learning disabilities.
These are my most major characters. Other characters may come up in a post, but I will make sure to clearly label them and explain their role when and if they do.
Monday, July 27, 2009
First Post
This is the part where I introduce myself.
My name is N.L. LeBlanc. I'm 18 years old and live in New Brunswick, Canada. I graduated from high school in June and am attending University in September as a psychology student. After completing my bachelor's degree, I plan on going to medical school and pursuing a career in psychiatry.
My passion is writing. I am a published author (poetry) and have been working on my beloved novel since June 2008. Before I started writing Life in Black and White, I wrote the beginnings of two other novels (at ages 15 and 16), completed one previous novel (age 13) and two novellas (ages 11 and 12). None of my novels were published at those ages. The completed novel won't be, as it was the first of a series and I have no interest in continuing in. But I do plan on someday reworking the novellas and hopefully putting them out there.
If those novels were "happy relationships" while they lasted, then Life in Black and White is the love of my life. I've been working on it for a year and two months, and giving up has never been an option (although I am currently sifting through annoying filler... but it'll end soon enough :P). Basically my life's ambition is to get it published and for it to hopefully become a bestseller.
Which is why I am working on getting smaller things (poetry, short stories) published, so that I can have a nice list of previous publications to impress an agent with. :)
Why on Earth am I blogging instead of writing my novel?
Well, kids, sometimes a writer needs a break, you know? Take today, for example. I told my mother I would be able to give her chapters 33-39 by tomorrow night, so I spent basically the whole day working on chapters 36 and 37. Now I'm pooped.
Although I always tend to feel guilty when doing something other than writing my book, the truth is that blogging, to me, is basically a writer's therapy. I love talking about my book. I especially love talking about my characters, who have a mind of their own. Blogging, I hope, will give me a good outlet to do that, even when it feels like no one is listening.
And once I've made my daily (or at least regular) post, I can plunge back into my work a refreshed, motivated me.
Or at least that's what I tell myself.
My name is N.L. LeBlanc. I'm 18 years old and live in New Brunswick, Canada. I graduated from high school in June and am attending University in September as a psychology student. After completing my bachelor's degree, I plan on going to medical school and pursuing a career in psychiatry.
My passion is writing. I am a published author (poetry) and have been working on my beloved novel since June 2008. Before I started writing Life in Black and White, I wrote the beginnings of two other novels (at ages 15 and 16), completed one previous novel (age 13) and two novellas (ages 11 and 12). None of my novels were published at those ages. The completed novel won't be, as it was the first of a series and I have no interest in continuing in. But I do plan on someday reworking the novellas and hopefully putting them out there.
If those novels were "happy relationships" while they lasted, then Life in Black and White is the love of my life. I've been working on it for a year and two months, and giving up has never been an option (although I am currently sifting through annoying filler... but it'll end soon enough :P). Basically my life's ambition is to get it published and for it to hopefully become a bestseller.
Which is why I am working on getting smaller things (poetry, short stories) published, so that I can have a nice list of previous publications to impress an agent with. :)
Why on Earth am I blogging instead of writing my novel?
Well, kids, sometimes a writer needs a break, you know? Take today, for example. I told my mother I would be able to give her chapters 33-39 by tomorrow night, so I spent basically the whole day working on chapters 36 and 37. Now I'm pooped.
Although I always tend to feel guilty when doing something other than writing my book, the truth is that blogging, to me, is basically a writer's therapy. I love talking about my book. I especially love talking about my characters, who have a mind of their own. Blogging, I hope, will give me a good outlet to do that, even when it feels like no one is listening.
And once I've made my daily (or at least regular) post, I can plunge back into my work a refreshed, motivated me.
Or at least that's what I tell myself.
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