It feels good to be writing steadily again. Weird, because I'm writing on paper instead of the comp (need to be accessible to the kids while they're here), but good nonetheless. At least words are making it out of my brain.
I'm still stuck at the research phase for the MG I was talking about in the last post, that is temporarily titled Don't Turn Your Back. But I've gone back to an old WIP that has never had a name. It's a YA romance with a blind girl as the MC. It should be quite interesting to write.
One of the things that helped me pick it back up again was a post over at one of my favorite blogs, The Prairie Chicks. The post was all about touch, and using the senses when writing. It really started me thinking, and I rewrote the first two paragraphs, focusing on the sense of smell.
According to the critters that I let read the new beginning, it works and well. I'm not entirely sure where the story is going, but I should have fun getting there. The MC, Brooke Matthias, is the new featured character on the sidebar. Check her out if you get the chance.
The kids and I have decided to do a "summer NaNo" this year. They are each going to have a story written, edited and printed to show their teachers on the first day of school next year. They are quite excited!! Brett is already planning something with zombie birds. Micah's talking about flying horses and other animals. And Ben said something about a killer video game.
Yes, if there is one thing my kids have, it's imagination.
11 comments:
Sounds like a fun project for the kids to write a story over the summer. Zombie birds sound the coolest.
Good luck with the progress of your WIP! I'm right there with you.
I love the idea of doing a summer nonomo w/ the kids.
That's a great idea! Zombie birds = merc will like!
A summer NaNo with your kids! That sounds awesome. :D
Hey, Cap't, great to hear you're writing again. And I'm glad you're working on your story about the blind girl - that garnered my attention when you commented on The Chicks that day.
And I love to hear about kids writing. I used to teach - and that was one of my projects. By the end of the year, I had the kids asking for writing time (that and reading). Best of luck to you and your kids on your summer projects :)
I love that your kids are all into writing, too. How fun for the teacher to receive these books in the fall. I used to be a teacher (before the twins) and I know I would've loved to have read those little masterpieces.
Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
Yay! Kids need their imaginations. So glad you're getting your thoughts down. I think a blind protagonist would make for a really interesting story. Great idea to use smell! Touch too, would work.
That sounds fun!
And I can just hear Spongebob say "Imaginaaaaaation." :)
I absolutely love that you have a writing goal that you share with your kids. I hope to do the same when I have some of my own; Such a great way to stretch the imagination! - And when they get older, what treasures these old stories will be.
Do you have experience with people who are blind, or are you exploring a wholly new area? I would imagine that it is a monumental task researching to write about a very different life experience from having sight.
Crimey - Yeah, Brett is a bird fanatic, so zombie birds (his fave is a catbird at the moment) are right up his alley.
Tara - It is fun. We're chugging along on it.
Yuna - He got the idea from Merc (in a roundabout way).
Glam - Just wait until Darcy's older and begging you to type all her stories for her.
Janet - Thanks. It feels good to be writing again. It was so hard to do when my life was in such turmoil. I have a feeling you were a great teacher!
Lynette - Yeah, the teachers do seen to enjoy reading the kids' efforts. And it's so neat to see how their stories reflect their interests.
Jessica - Thanks. When I started with the blind protagonist, I wanted to steer away from the stereotype of relying on hearing the most. Granted it probably is the strongest sense after sight, and the one we think of first, but if you talk to a blind person, they tend to identify people by two things - their footsteps and their scent. So smell is quite important to them.
Kelly - It's one of my favorite episodes. My kids used to have so much fun with cardboard boxes :)
Christopher - We do have a blast writing together. It started as a way to get my younger son involved in reading (something that is very difficult for him and that he still doesn't really enjoy). He really liked the thought of reading aloud to us something that he wrote. And then we found NaNo and they had so much fun with that. So we'll keep going. And I post everything they write on Critique Circle so my friends can "critique" them (read encourage). It makes them feel very grown up.
To answer your question - yes and no. I have never met a blind person (at least not totally blind), but I have done extensive research on it for years. I've even taught myself Braille. But not for the purpose of the book. I did the research because I am steadily going blind and the doctors say that unless medical science advances rapidly in the coming years, I will be completely blind within 10 years. So it was for personal benefit that I did it.
Zombie birds sound the coolest.
That sounds awesome.
Good luck with the progress of your WIP
--
glovin
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