Thursday 28 October 2010

Writing, Writing, Writing...Ooh, Today's The Day

I've finally got the Hot Dog song out of my head from goddaughter sitting yesterday. Woot. So today I'm writing. Yes, I shall be in my happy space tapping on the keyboard. I've got blogs to read, a plot twist to finish, my ending to complete; I'm swamped.

Okay, I'm paraphrasing Prince Humperdinck from The Princess Bride there, but you get the idea. :)

One question though? Can you hear me squee? Yes, today is the Operation Awesome query chat with Elana Johnson. In case you need it, Kristal has posted a handy reminder form over on the OA blog. 

My love of spreading the awesome means I am to sacrifice my cookie/plot dreaming sleep to be awake at 2am. Fear not, I'm prepared. I've saved my writing procrastination episodes of this weeks The Vampire Diaries and Criminal Minds to keep me busy. Although you've seen where I write so I don't have to go far. I'll be the one moderating in my PJ's. I promise I'll brush my hair though. :)

There's also only three days to get your entry in for the beautiful UK edition white Twilight covers (bought and sent by yours truly). Contest closes at Midnight GMT.

And now other things.

Over the last month the goddaughter has started the copying phase. I rested my chin  on my hand, she did the same. I stood in the doorway...so did she (she even looked how my feet were positioned and did the same). If she had any sense she'd copy someone less of a klutz than her auntie, but I guess she's learning other actions. Other ways of expressing herself by watching me.

Then I realised that I do the same when I write. We all do.

We take our notebooks and jot down actions, moments and reactions we've seen and twist them to use for our own literary purposes. We magpie various tones of voice, facial gestures, traits and ticks for characters. We are the ultimate developing children who use our experiences to layer into our richly created worlds.

And that's got to help us learn to be better writers, right?

Hope to see you at the chat. :)

10 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

On a Princess Bride kick I see - I approve!

Renae said...

I told you that song sticks in your head! I hope I make it home from work in time for the chat!

Matthew MacNish said...

No more rhyming and I mean it! Anybody want a peanut?

I hope have time for the OA thing. Elana is so awesome ...

Creepy Query Girl said...

I haven't heard about the elana johnson chat! on my way to go check it out!

Deb Salisbury, Magic Seeker and Mantua-Maker said...

Your goddaughter is so cute! Hmm. You have a point that we do the same thing. Learning is good at every stage.

Off to visit OA!

Missed Periods said...

That's so true what you say about copying. When I am stuck on facial gestures or tones of voice, I turn on a movie and see what the characters do. Granted, the actors have to be good. Though I love to look at him, I probably wouldn't use Keanu Reeves as my subect.

Anonymous said...

I donna think im is who you think im is. ;)-

Inconceiveable!

LOL, love that movie!

For sure, writers learn a TON from observation alone. Nice post!

Katrina L. Lantz said...

Ah, I love how you sneak writerly wisdom in at the end there! :) It's so true, though. We're all children copying each other. That's what forms a society, and it's just easier to see in literature where style and voice are mimicked all the time.

Nothing wrong with that, as long as we coin the occasional new descriptive phrase or profound metaphor. *wink, wink* ahem. But I don't have to tell you, Metaphoricles. Preaching. to. the. choir.

Oh, and you know I'll be at the chat tonight! Counting the hours till then!

Hannah said...

You know, I go automatically to Prince Humperdink when anyone begins listing all the things they have to do. Ha! So I had the voice in my head. You make-a me giggle.

Shannon said...

Wish I was able to make the chat. I just got done with work. =( Can't wait to hear your recap!