Writing a Novel is Easy - It's the Editing that Sucks.

"I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose," -Stephen King

Something I've learned about myself is that I can write a first draft in a breeze. About a year, and I have a mess of a first draft - but it's done.  Full of long and hard hours of cranking out emotions and characters and words.

And I thought I would just have to polish the plot, add a few things for depth, and clean up the grammatical errors and such.

But no.  Editing sucks so much.  It's boring.  Clicking through paragraph after paragraph to just change a word.  Formatting?  Shoot me in the foot.  Spelling? Gag me with a knife. And don't even get me started on the actual hardest part which is cutting scenes, reworking paragraphs, changing backstories, adding scenes.  Pounding and melting and shaping my story like metal in a hearth.

I hate it.  I hate it because it's boring.  I hate it because I love developing a story, I love writing scenes and spending time with my characters.  But with editing, I get to do none of that.

One of the reasons that I have been spending more time with my blog is because now that I have finished my story, I truly have nothing to write. And I have to write.  It's a way of life. If I don't empty my mind, I'll surely go mad.  And without a story, it feels like I am on the brink of insanity.

And having nothing to write fills me with an odd feeling.  Without a story to weave, what is my purpose?  It feels like everything meaningful in my life has been sucked away now that I no longer have a novel to focus my energy on.

Writing it is the easy part.  Because that's exactly what I am - a writer.

Plotting is slightly harder, since we're fabricating something from nothing.  But it's doable.

Editing is shit. It's unfun and dull and boring. Devoid of emotion and like sweeping a floor. Menial and awful.

The only way that I can keep myself motivated to edit is the potential my story has.  If I keep my eyes on the prize, maybe then the bloodshot eyes and hunched shoulders and unenthusiastic work wouldn't be so menial.

Because my words are anything but.

~The WordShaker

5 Love Languages Collaboration: Part 2

"Write what disturbs you.  What you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open." -Natalie Goldberg

Since everyone adored the first Love Languages post, and there was so much positive feedback, I have decided to revamp it and feature some of my newest characters and with some new authors and their characters!

If you are confused, check the original post out here --> 5 Love Languages Collab Part 1

This post will feature the two main characters from the trilogy I am currently still brainstorming and plotting about, but I'm sure that their names and personalities probably won't change much.

Meet Alexandria, the FMC from my in-the-works sci-fi story called the Sundown Trilogy!

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Physical Touch
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Acts of Service 
2 - Quality Time
3 - Receiving Gifts 
Lowest - Words of Affirmation

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Words of Affirmation
Middle (highest to lowest) 
1 - Giving Gifts
2- Acts of Service 
3 - Quality Time
Lowest - Physical Touch 

Meet Liam, the MMC from the Sundown Trilogy as well. 

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Receiving Gifts
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Physical Touch
2 - Quality Time
3 - Acts of Service
Lowest - Words of Affirmation

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Acts of Service
Middle (highest to lowest) 
1 - Words of Affirmation
2- Physical Touch
3 - Quality Time
                                                         Lowest - Giving Gifts

And now on to Amy's characters, who have no photos :(

Meet Julia Trencher from Amy's paranormal novel, Unfixed! You can read about it here -> WIP:  Unfixed 

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Words of Affirmation
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Quality Time
2 - Physical Touch
3 - Receiving Gifts 
Lowest - Acts of Service

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Acts of Service 
Middle (highest to lowest) 
1 - Quality Time  
2- Words of Affirmation
3 - Giving Gifts
Lowest - Physical Touch

Meet The Great Geppetto from Amy's novel, 'Unfixed'!

Recipient Love Languages
Primary - Words of Affirmation
Middle (highest to lowest)
1 - Acts of Service 
2 - Quality Time
3 - Physical Touch
Lowest - Receiving Gifts

Giving Love Languages
Primary - Words of Affirmation
Middle (highest to lowest) 
1 - Giving Gifts
2 - Acts of Service 
3 - Quality Time 
Lowest - Physical Touch

Now for Maggie's characters.  They are from her fantasy novel, Battlescars! Quick Description: Drake Murdoch - almost black, shaggy hair. Red cape and purple eyes.  

Recipient Love Languages

Primary - Recieving Gifts

Middle (highest to lowest)

1 - Quality Time

2 - Physical Touch

3 - Words of Affirmation

Lowest - Acts of Service

Giving Love Languages

Primary - Quality Time

Middle (highest to lowest)

1 - Physical Touch

2 - Words of Affirmation

3 - Acts of Service

Lowest - Giving Gifts

Meet Loughen Saint-Clair, also from Battlescars!

Giving Love Languages

Primary - Quality Time

Middle (highest to lowest)

1 - Giving Gifts

2 - Physical Touch

3 - Words of Affirmation

Lowest - Acts of Service

Recipient Love Languages

Primary - Quality Time

1 - Physical touch

2 - Words of Affirmation

3 - Acts of Service 

Lowest - Getting Gifts

If anyone is interested, I could use some super old characters for a part 3. ;) Contact me at oliviajthewordshaker@gmail.com if you are interested!

Follow their blogs here --->  Amy  & Maggie

~The WordShaker

My Third Owl City Concert

"Writing is an exploration.  You start from nothing and learn as you go," -E. L. Doctorow

So, three Owl City concerts down.  An infinite amount to go. 

Lauren and I in the Parking Garage <3

First, I'll talk about the experience as a whole, the ups and the downs. Because there was a considerable amount of both. 

As always, the Hootowls (Adam's fans) were great. They were fun to talk to and constantly looking out for each other. Passionate is the best word to describe them. High energy and down to earth and friendly.  They're the best, and I wish I could be friends with all of them. And Lauren and I shared some pretty awesome conversations with them. 

The venue was the worst, by far.  It was the House of Blues in Chicago, and it was enormously strict. Not only was the concert only an hour and a half because of HoB rules, the Meet and Greet was strict, impersonal and quick. The large man in the blue shirt rushed us along like cattle.  Say hi, smile, click, and leave.  Nothing more. This, was the biggest disappointment of all. 

But my heart is soaring in my chest just thinking about this. I met Adam Young. The fluttery feeling in the cavity of my stomach.  The heat searing through my skin.  I can still feel it all as I am writing this. But seeing the man behind the music right there in front of me was a surreal and insane experience.  I was truly at a loss for words. While it was a disappointment because it wasn't all that I had dreamed about (but since when is life ever that way?), I don't regret a single moment of it. 

Actually, Lauren said a total of about two words, while, I, on the other hand, was a bumbling idiot. I never got anything worthwhile out, much less anything meaningful that I wanted to say.  But since when have I ever been tactful with the spoken word? 

But truly, I wouldn't change a thing about meeting Adam.  While it wasn't amazing and I froze on the spot, I wouldn't trade meeting him for the world. Probably the best experience of my life. And Lauren can most likely vouch for this, but there is no amount of words in the English language that you could string together to equal the sheer emotion of being right there, with Adam freaking Randal Young. 

CONTINUAL SCREAMING

As always, he was a joy to watch preform. Singing each song with devout passion and humble genuineness, he is a mastery at his craft, and the whole Owl City universe is a drop of God himself in this desolate world. He truly is, my only human idol on this earth.  He is everything I aspire to be and more. 

Since Lauren and I didn't get to say all that we wanted to, nor would have there been enough time in the world to say everything required, we are planning on writing separate letters to him, showing all that we could never say in the medium we are best at manipulating: words.   

<3

~The WordShaker

FAQ and Questions about My Novel: From You!

"To gain your own voice, you have to forget about having it heard," -Allen Ginsberg

These are some questions that my beta readers and friends had about my novel, so for this week's blog post, I answer them along with some general FAQ.  This post will make much more sense if you read this post--> My WIP

Explain the title and the significance behind it. 

Haha, yes.  Everyone always asks about this because it's such a long title, and half of it is in a different language. The 'Deus Ex Eremus' part comes from the Latin phrase 'Deus Ex Machina', meaning literally God from the machine. It is a plot device meaning the happenstance event that saves or solves a hopeless situation. This phrase and plot device usually has a negative connotation, since it is seen as a cop out.  But I replaced the word 'machina' with 'eremus' which is the Latin word for wilderness, hence the subtitle:  'God from the Wilderness'. The significance of the title would kind of be a spoiler, but I'll try to be vague. Since the whole point of the story is their change and development as they overcome their struggles, the whole God from the wilderness part emphasizes one of the main themes of how great things can come from awful circumstances. 

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

You know, everyone asks this question, but truthfully, I can't remember.  It just kind of came together, I guess. 

What was your most favorite scene to write?

Probably either the first chapter, or Chapter 23, when *ahem* shit starts to get real, and it all has to work out from there.  It is just such a powerful and emotional chapter that rings true of the novel as a whole. 

Least favorite?

Least favorite - hmm, that's hard.  I don't think I can say that I ever disliked any scene, but there were scenes and chapters that were hard and grueling to write. 

Who is your target audience?

This is kind of vague.  While this is a young adult novel, it is very graphic in some ways, the themes and struggles they go through are very centric to teenagers.  More specifically though, I'm still on the fence on whether I want to call this a 'Christian' book.  While the characters are Christian and there are many references to redemption and salvation, they deal with things like rape and abuse, drugs and sex, all very real things, which would scare your squeaky-clean Christian teen.  But the spirituality side might repulse some secular teens. So, yeah.  That was rambling, but you get my point. 

If you had to rate your novel using movie ratings, what would it be?  

*nervous laughter*  Probably R, mostly for strong language, thematic elements, violence and gore, and some sensuality.  So, uh Not Safe For Work. 

Did you cry while writing any parts?

You know, at the end of my last novel, I cried my eyes out.  But no, I didn't.  I mean I felt some hardcore stuff, but no, I never cried for some reason. 

Did you worry your characters would die on you?

No, not really.  Mostly because I'm a plotter and I knew almost every event before I even started writing the story, so if they were going to die, I knew it. Sorry, Amy. 

What was your biggest inspiration when writing this?

Probably Lost.  I got into it a few months after I got the idea for the story, and was enthralled and have been ever since. The characters captivated me, the story pulled me in, the survival was cleanly executed, and, above all else, the themes that ran through the veins of Lost directly inspired my love for the triumph of the human spirit, and overcoming one's obstacles within themselves. 

Hope you enjoyed this!  Have any more questions - email me at oliviajthewordshaker@gmail.com

~The WordShaker

This Isn't The End.

"Write what you love, and love what you write.  You have to get up in the morning and write something to live for," -Ray Bradbury

Well. I guess that's it. On October 3rd, I, Olivia Bennett, finished the first draft of Deus Ex Eremus: God from the Wilderness - 321 pages, 109,853 words.

Me with Draft One 

And truly, it's much more anticlimactic than I thought it would be, and this is because of one thing.

When I finished my last novel, I cried because their story ended. There was nothing else to tell, no other words to say. I was sad because my timeless journey with them was over, and I mourned their end because I loved them so much.

But with this novel, I rejoice, because this is just one small sliver of their lives, and it is not over. Wyatt, Terra, Harper, Lilly, Nick and the rest of the desert gang will live on forever inside of me. Their story is not over, although this is a stand-alone story. I am not letting them go, they are just done with their visit.  I could not possibly be sad, because there is nothing to be sad about. This day is monumental, and I shall celebrate!

Call me crazy, but they are just as real as you or me. Except their blood is ink and their skin is paper. And they are just another piece of this broken heart I have before me.

Words cannot describe how excited I am to edit this and then send it out to beta readers, and, in the end, have endless others read and be touched by my words. 

Because I don't just write this for myself.  I write it for you. 

But like at the same time, I feel like I have just given birth. 

Blessings,

~Olivia J, The WordShaker

A Strongly Worded Letter

"As a writer, you ask yourself to dream while awake," -Aimee Bender

Dear parents who tell us our dreams are worthless,

Dear people who tell us writers that we need to get a 'real job',

Dear society who brushes the stage aspirations of others to the side,

Dear the hard-assed old lady teachers who crumple up kids papers when they're doodling in class,

Dear STEM-lovers who disregard our passions as worthless, frivolous, or trivial,

I would like to inform you of something.

**

Society sees the arts as worthless, something for mere entertainment. It's the social workers, the doctors, lawyers, who do more good for society, right?

Wrong.

But I know what you really want.  You want to cram our colorful, imaginative, beautiful minds into a cardboard box.  You want us to be cookie-cutter members of society.

But again, I'm here to tell you that we just can't.  As creatives, we were meant to bend the rules, to push the envelope, to think like there was no box to begin with. The colloquial box you try to fit us in and understand us doesn't exist.

You dislike us, you disregard us, you laugh at us, you refuse to understand us, for the mere reason because you are afraid of us. Because creativity changes things.  And you don't like change.

Nobody remembers the unknown citizen. In history, we remember the leaders, the innovators, the extraordinary ones, the people who went their own way and did something for themselves. Creativity is invaluable, and you will not staunch it in us.

So, fellow artists of all shapes, and sizes, never let society bog down your dreams of extraordinary proportions. Never let their toxic words stick with you. Because if you let their words dig their thorns into your rainbow veins, you'll regret it, and soon, you too will become the unknown citizen, which is a fate more dire than failure.

*****

Well, I haven't ranted in a while, so I thought I might.

Enjoy fellow artists!

~The WordShaker