Why do i like writing fiction?

I was asked earlier why I like to write fiction and my answer was simply why not? I mean is there any reason out there not to enjoy writing fiction?

The thought of taking a story and making it your own, with whatever twists and turns you can come up with and never worrying that you are doing something wrong because the fact is that fiction isn’t fact, it blows my mind. If I was to write in any other genre I would most definatly stumble over legalities, what is correct and what isn’t etc. but with fiction the possibilities are endless!

I mean think about it, why can’t we have a book that starts with a romance story, then leads to introduce a vampire friend before zombies attack and it ends with a nuclear bomb destroying an alien invasion. Action packed yes although probably slightly confusing. But still possible!

I have a habit of spelling things incorrectly or saying the most stupid ideas that come to my head, do you know what that is called? Excitement. My fingers fly over the keyboard as I try to get all of the ideas out of my head and on file before they are gone forever and yes 70% of the time I will read through it later and think “What the ……” but the point is I am excited about fiction. Romance, mythological, historical, mystical, magical, adultery whatever you want to write about is possible with fiction.

My passion is to write and I write with passion. 🙂

Overcomplicated Simplicity – My article for AHA Authors Helping Authors.

Overcomplicated simplicity.

 

My last article was based on writers block and I suppose this one sort of hovers around the same topic. You see as a writer for the last lord knows how many years it has been extremely frustrating that I could not write my book. The ideas were in my head so why were they not coming out on the paper? I would have sticky notes covering the wall above my computer filled with all kinds of notes and words I found inspiring yet every time I opened my word document and tried to write the first sentence I was immediately stuck.

Dean turned to Dillan about to ask a very important question.

A simple sentence yet in my mind other questions where spiralling. “Do I need to introduce Dillan earlier? Should I explain more about his background? What if I need some background history on him later? Should I write that now? Yes I should. So where would I like this character to have grown up? A small village or a big town? Which country? Should I make him exotic? What colour eyes and hair should he have? What personality and build should he have? Maybe I should start with Dean and go from there? So where would I like Dean to have grown up? And what could have happened in his life to make him what he is today? Should I add another character to that? They could show up later out of the blue and save him? Or try to destroy him? What if the readers don’t think this question is as important as the next question. Should I move that sentence down and use it later? But then what sentence do I use here?” these questions were circling my mind constantly until I just gave in assuming it was because I had no idea what I was doing.

One day I opened a word document, and I wrote a short story. Reminding myself that if something doesn’t sound correct or make sense it doesn’t matter, it’s only a rough draft. There is always time to go over and fix the problems when you are done but if you try to do it as you go you will get stumped. The other thing to remember is that nothing will get published until you are happy with it, so relax and just have fun with it. Stop beginning a story imagining the book you want at the the end of it or you will completely forget what you are trying to say. Another thing I myself am guilty of. See my first book Awake Again is based on legend and myths from vampires to mermaids and includes awareness of my daughters rare disability, it is my way of raising awareness in a fun way instead of leaflets with statistics and facts which let’s face it just aren’t interesting. But once I started writing it seriously I started to forget that the aim was to make this disability more known about and support easier to find and began aiming on making it exciting for the reader, it grew into an exciting romance story between a vampire and a demon that began with a horrific rape scene of a prostitute and it was only after a publisher friend had read it and asked me one simple question that I realised what I had done wrong.

“That first chapter is amazing.” He had said. “You managed to make a violent rape scene inviting and enjoyable to read and I couldn’t put it down.” Obviously these words had me beaming from ear to ear. But then he continued. “But I am confused, you said you wanted this book to help raise awareness of a rare condition so other parents with children born with the same condition could feel more relaxed. How did you feel after Jessica’s diagnosis? How do you think reading a violent rape scene of a prostitute would have helped you to relax?”

I was speechless that I had made such a horrific error in judgement. I remembered the main goal was the book being for disability awareness, but I forgot that the readers I wanted would be affected by a disability. See what I am trying to say? Again I focused on the book I wanted at the end and forgot what it was I wanted to say.

My point is that wether you are trying to write a book, a short story, an essay for school or even an article for a website you must try to forget about what it is you want at the end and always remember what you want to say and that the keyboard has a delete button you can use at any time. There are no limits with writing so we do make it so difficult for ourselves? 

Confession time.

So in my last post I mentioned how much this promoting and marketing is taking it out of me and that I spent all day in my dressing gown and didn’t even brush my hair. The truth is, I spent all of today the same way and do you know what I did? Not a damn thing LOL. For day’s now I have been saying ‘Tomorrow I’m going to move the living room around and bleach the floor, hoover the sofa, antibacterialize the kids toys after throwing most of them because they don’t play with them!’ And still I have yet to see tomorrow.

It would seem it is not the book stuff that’s taking it out of me, I am just pure lazy. I need to start looking after my appearance now, nobody will want me to do a book signing if I turn up in stretchy pants and face paints! But let me tell you a secret. Come closer. Closer. 

I LIKE stretchy pants and face paints! SSSHHHHH Don’t tell anyone or it will ruin all of the credibility I don’t have! 

I have three children and the oldest isn’t even 6 yet, don’t get me wrong I would LOVE to turn up for school every morning to drop them off and look not only successful but awake! Instead of rice crispies in my hair and tea stains on my top, but it just isn’t happening. I am a mother therefore I dress like one. My shoe collection is fit to burst of lovely peep toe heels and boots, but I don’t even go out, so why do I obsess about buying them? ( actually I don’t have a pair of green shoes, hang on need to check eBay ^_^)

The point is that I may struggle with my kids and wake up thinking ‘is it nearly bedtime yet?’ and i may walk around looking like a zombie, and yes OK that jumper underneath my coat IS part of pajama set i have had far to long but can’t bare to part with, but i am also living my dream! A dream i have had for many years now, and it is only one of many. As well as writing i love crafts and singing and dancing, and i also love painting and decorating, trimming hedges, plastering walls, putting pictures up, wallpapering! you give me a task women aren’t supposed to do and i will tackle it with even more passion!

Don’t let anyone stand in your way, go forth and claim your place in this world with whatever it is you want to do. who says the stay at home wife and mother cant be successful? i sure as hell don’t!