Ideas...

More than likely, if you are reading this blog, you probably have a good number of ideas about what you want to write about.
But what if you don't have an idea?
What if you are straining your brain for an idea?
Well, don't worry... an idea will come.
Here are some techniques to getting an idea, for those who feel they can't come up with a good idea when they need it. Trust me, I can relate.
Take a look at these:

1. Relax. I've seen a complaint about how ideas don't come when the businessman, author, or anyone needs them, ideas shower like waterfalls when they go to sleep at night. This is true for me. What about you? What are the ideas you come up with in bed, just before you fall asleep? What is the idea that you see and think, "I'm going to save that idea for tomorrow," but the next day you wake up and forget all about it?
2. This leads me to my second point: Keep a pen and notebook beside you at ALL times. An author I know claims to do this most of the time, writing down notes as they come to the author. If you don't prefer a pen and notebook, then download the Google Docs app, or, if your device is incompatible, another text editor. However, I would recommend a pen and notebook beside your bed for the simple reason that electronic screens are proven to hamper your sleep, as the studies here and here show, which leads me to my next point: 
3. I want you to have a good night's rest, as being rested improves your creativity, as shown in this study, Wikipedia, and this study as well. 
4. Focus on writing only ONE HOUR a day. That's it. Now, I realize that for some, that's too much, while for others, too little. However, a "published" screenwriter recommended that you keep it down to one or two hours (preferably one) of creative writing. Why? Think about it. You have a specific goal and TIME LIMIT. That's huge. You don't want to come out of there empty-handed, and if you love your story, you'll write faster. For others, it's a commitment. I want you to reach that publishing stage and grow famous, so put in that work.
5. Research. This should be fun. This is anything from browsing Pinterest or looking up when the first car was introduced. You want to browse and be inspired by stuff other people have created. If you do not have a Pinterest account, I highly recommend that you acquire one, as of right now it is free and there is a great amount of good inspiration material on the site.

So, for a moment of Review:

1. Relax. Get in your zone
2. Keep something near to hold your ideas (preferably a notebook)
3. Have a good night's rest
4. Write with hyper-extreme-focus for ONE HOUR a day
5. Research. Stumble across ideas.

There you go, some tips for creative work. I might post a follow up to this, so beware.  :)

Happy writing!

Preparation Preparation Preparation - Part 2

So, we've discussed steps 1-3. Now comes the harder, more complex part(s).  :)

The next step in preparation IS:

     4. Setting the mood for your book.

A mood is sort of like a genre. Is your book categorized by romance? By the feeling of horror readers get when they read your book? Or is there not a lot of feeling, and a lot of action? You don't want this to take over your book (don't fall into slaving after one specific mood), but keep this in the back of your mind when you write. Also, you want different sub-moods WITHIN your book ("duh," you say, "I know that!" However, it's a skill to get your emotion/moods into the heart of the reader. You might be surprised how hard it is.)

     5. Storyboard the mess out of this thing.

I used to NOT believe in story-boarding, believe it or not. I believed that your book should just FLOW from your pen, eloquence flowing out as fast as the ink. 

Well, I was wrong.

Tell me if you think I'm wrong, but there is a term that's called "writing yourself into a corner." Let me show you how this works:

You are on a hot streak. The words haven't flowed from your pen like this in a month. You feel your mood is getting across to the reader. As your writing, the only thing irritating your mind is the fact that you haven't taken a sip of water in five minutes, even though you are parched; your hands are too busy. 

Then it stops. 

You realize that you and your MC are trapped, whether metaphorically or perhaps even physically for your MC. And it's not like you can take out that part of your story: it was written so well...

You didn't plan ahead.

With that bad memory in mind, whether experienced personally or not, it's probably a good idea to prepare by story-boarding. Not every conversation, or even every chapter. Just the basics. For example:

1. MC gets captured 
2. MC works for captors, learning the inside structure of his opponents castle, analyzing weaknesses inherent in his captors for if he ever breaks free
3. MC breaks free
4. MC gathers his family's tribe, which is rather large, and assaults the castle, using the knowledge he gained from analyzing the castle.
5. MC wins the battle, and is declared king.

Now, my storyboard is much more complex. But you get the understand the general idea. See how it allows for wiggle room. I didn't specify what conversations he/she had, who he/she meets, if someone he/she meets within the castle sets him/her free, or if he/she met his/her true love or even if (*gasp*) he/she had to leave that true love behind!

So yes, I love story-boarding. :)

As a counter-weight, however, some authors may perhaps skip the story-boarding process. I, however, am not that good, and I have yet to hear about them.

What's your opinion?

Preparation Preparation Preparation :)

One thing that makes a LOT of authors NOT finish their books or creative work is lack of preparation. Believe it or not, you actually need a lot of preparation to write a book.  :)
With preparation, you actually can make writing your book a LOT easier.
How do you prepare?
I'm glad you asked.
Before we advance though, let me remind you that not everything is for you, the writer. Remember to take everything "with a grain of salt." However, these are general steps that is best taken, switched around, and experimented with, to see if it benefits your writing.  :)

1. Do your research. Put at least some effort into it.
2. Prepare your setting. 

Make sure what time period this story is in, whether in the 1950's, 2000's, the present, or in the future (I almost put the time period in another category, but it's rather small as a category. However, do NOT miss this). Another part of the setting is where geographically this is, whether in Germany, Africa, Mars, or farther away. In whatever you do, put in some effort for research, as it will pay off in huge sums at the end. I remember watching a movie with my father, and near the beginning, in a moment when the audience was supposed to be awe-struck, a moment of faulty researched showed through, and I was drawn out of the moment.  The reader's mind must be constantly meshed with your MC's mind and emotions.
Research is why I prefer science fiction, dated in the WAY future. That way, I feel that my creativity is almost fully unhampered.

      3. Prepare your characters.

As you prepare, think about the characters you want your MC to meet. This is critical, as you develop personalities, lessons you want your character to learn from these people your MC meets, etc. This step will lead to, and for some, become interchangeable with the next step.
Remember, your story will be carried by characters.  :)
What do you think? :)

First Off... As of 4/20/16

Hello, friends!
I just want to say thnx for coming to my site, whether by accident, or (go figure), you really want to write stuff! :) And not just stuff...

• Worlds born and characters created.
• Good versus Evil
• Epic battles of the heart and of the mind.
• Betrayal
• Steadfast belief, amidst crumbling ruin
• Love lost, reborn, and forever.
• The struggle for the Character's beliefs.
• The legendary last battle fought with either the mind or body, that goes on through the generations as a story bordering on fantasy.
• The triumph of your character, with a swell in his/her chest of pride, having only grown stronger

I know what I just described may sound like a battle story, but I don't mean just like that. You can literally take almost everything I described I just described and apply it to almost any story you have up there in your writer brain.

One disclaimer though:

• I am not a professional writer. (Yes, it's true)

With that in mind, please take everything you read, "with a grain of salt," meaning, don't take everything I say, and don't expect everything I say to be gold that will transform your book writing.

• I made this blog as a conversation

This is a DISCOVERY to book writing. I want to argue, inspire, and support each of you that reads my blog, and I want you guys to do the same for me. :)  All of us, including those who have authored books, are just spit-balling, seeing what feels right. Even the pros don't have everything mapped out, remember,

I am currently in a project with my author friend. We are going to write a book, hopefully approved by the publishers, and enjoy it thoroughly!

Well, I think I've said enough for my first blog post.  :) I hope you enjoy our conversation! 

Happy writing!