Tag: Writers

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 20: When Business Trumps Art

November 20, 2011 jcladyluv

As a person who not only writes fiction for a living but who also edits fiction as well I find it sometimes hard to separate myself from the work that I am editing. This is most evident on the days that I am unable to write on my own novel. I am at the tail end of editing project on another work of fiction by one of my more steady clients and it is one of those stories that just captivates you and pulls you into wanting to learn more and more about its characters. I wish I could tell you more details about what is so amazing about this story but its confidential. I am still trying to get my word count done for today but I am just so moved by the work that I’m editing and after all business is still business and I must make money. Hopefully I will have more to tell you about what’s going on in my own novel tomorrow. Until next time…Do you think your novel will pull your editor in?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 19: Silenced

November 19, 2011 jcladyluv

Today was not a good day for writing. I tried to get my thoughts together but nothing was really coming out, at least not right anyway. I’ve been thinking about other things pertaining to my writing, such as what happens after November is over and my novel is done. I’m not necessarily talking about my future projects, I’m thinking more so of the freelance aspect of my writing career. Today the stresses of life have been bogging me down so much that the words would not come together but I am going to make sure to double up on my writing tomorrow to make up for what I missed today. Hopefully in tomorrow’s post I will feel more accomplished in my word count for the day. Until tomorrow…Missing one day won’t hurt, I hope.

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 13: The Harry Potter Distraction

November 13, 2011 jcladyluv

Today was another struggle to write but it wasn’t because Mackenzie wasn’t talking to me or having some kind of dramatic meltdown, but rather it was due to the distractions that life holds, especially on the weekend. My daughter was quite upset that I couldn’t play with her for the majority of the day because I was writing but what was really distracting me was this movie on T.V. Actually it was not just one movie, but rather a particular series of movies. I hope no one laughs when I say this but I was caught up in the Harry Potter movies. I had tried to read the book several times but I could never really get into them and every time the movie would come on before I had always caught it in the middle and I just couldn’t catch on. I can usually get hooked to a movie even coming in the middle but for some reason not Harry Potter.

So I had just dismissed it as maybe it just wasn’t my cup of tea and that even though I am a huge fan of J.K. Rowling and her story, maybe I just could not catch on to it. But just as I was wrong with dismissing Twilight (which I came to love a lot later on), I was also wrong with dismissing Harry Potter. There has been a Harry Potter marathon on the ABC Family network all weekend and as soon as I started watching the first one from the absolute beginning I was hooked. However, it is literally one of those movies where if you miss even one scene you miss a lot and luckily for me I have the feature on my T.V. where I can rewind if I come back from a commercial too late because otherwise I would’ve gotten lost even after finding a love for it. I started with the first one and am up to the fourth one (although I’m using the DVR for 4 and 5 to watch later). Needless to say, I’m hooked. It’s a shame too because now after the last one, there will be no more. So Harry Potter was my distraction today, but a good one.

Movies that draw me in like that and keep me on the edge of my seat make me think a lot about my writing and my stories. Now I’m no science fiction writer (not saying I would ever dismiss the possibility) and I don’t generally watch movies about vampires and werewolves or witches and wizards but what captivated me about Twilight and Harry Potter is the back story, that mixed in with the intrigue of being able to have the ability to come up with a completely different world apart from the real one that already exist. I watch these movies and think about how I want to (and hope that I do) make stories that draw people in like that and have them sitting on the edge of their seats (or bed in my case) wondering what’s going to happen next and leaving them wanting more of that story. You empathize with them, and you are scared right along with them. You want to help them and you want them to be okay (or in the cases of the villains you want them to get what’s coming to them). I may have been a bit distracted by Harry Potter this weekend but I was also incredibly inspired. I hope to draw my readers in like that and I’m going to work really hard to do that. Until next time…What stories or movies inspire you to be a better writer?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 12: Proving something to myself

November 12, 2011 jcladyluv

NaNoWriMo is teaching me a lot about myself and my writing this year. For one, this novel is showing me that I should not be afraid to branch out into different genres or styles of writing just because it’s something I’ve never done. I wouldn’t have known that I could be good at writing a mystery if I had never made the attempt. The second thing it has taught me is that I, the person who is not a morning person at all, writes better in the morning. Not only that but that I can actually, despite the longing to hit the snooze button on my alarm clock, have the willpower and enough passion for my writing that it makes me drag myself out of the bed anyway at five in the morning. The third thing that NaNoWriMo has helped me prove to myself is that I can actually blog everyday. The closest I had gotten to doing it before was three days a week. That was all I strived for because I had convinced myself that that was as close to daily blogging that I was ever going to get. I never even tried it before until doing this for NaNoWriMo and I am discovering that I should’ve been doing this a long time ago. Today was a tough day for writing. I had some things happen that were just emotionally draining. I didn’t feel like writing when I got home and my daughter was ready for Game/Pizza night. However, this novel is important to me and being able to say I finished what I started and set out to do is extremely important to me so I told my daughter to give me an hour to write and that we would start after. I sat down and, though the words were not coming easy, I finished my minimum word count for the day and I felt good that I pushed myself to just sit down and write. Mackenzie had some things that she wanted to get off her chest anyway and she didn’t feel that it could wait. Well I think I’m gonna call it a night and pray for tomorrow to be better. Until tomorrow…What has this year’s NaNoWriMo inspired you to prove to yourself?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 11: 11/11/11

November 11, 2011November 11, 2011 jcladyluv

This day is supposed to hold a lot of power. It would be a good day to get married or start a new adventure. They say it would even be a good day to launch a new business or to at the very least to have everything put in place to launch one. Considering the fact that this day is supposed to hold a lot of power it would have been a really good day to have released a book on. I guess that would mean I would need one that was ready to be released.

Well since I have one that is currently still in the editing phase from last years NaNoWriMo and am still currently working on my novel for this year’s, I will take this opportunity to talk about my new online magazine that I will be launching in January (of course had I known that today was supposed to be the day for launching things I might have done it today) called Write 2 Be Magazine. It will be a magazine that gives writers and artists a broad platform to showcase their work and share their experiences in dealing with the ins and outs of both the creative and business side of writing and the publishing industry. I will also be launching the Write 2 Be*Kids magazine later on next year because I want to give kids an outlet to express themselves where other kids can appreciate their gifts. For any of you who would like to contribute to the Write 2 Be magazine due out in January, or you have any ideas on how your child can contribute to the Write 2 Be*Kids magazine you can leave a comment hear or send an email to write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.

I would also like to maybe take advantage of this day to begin the process of re-marketing that first book that I have out that I talked about the other day. Why wait until National Novel Writing Month to start to begin promoting this novel again because there’s no time like the present. So below is a brief synopsis of my novel The Diary: Succession of Lies:

What if you discovered that the sins of your mother’s past will forever haunt your future? That finding out the secrets she took to her grave would turn your life upside down?

The Diary: Succession of Lies is a novel that exposes the secret life of a mistress. It is a tale of love, lust, loss, and redemption as well as the trials of two generations of women. The Diary takes a new spin on the mistress image, a woman often vilified throughout literature as a harlot and a home wrecker. It tackles several questions. Why does a mistress stay? Is love possible in such a taboo relationship? Is love enough to endure the consequences that come later.

If you would like to get a copy or find out more about the book then please click on this link in the post for The Diary and check it out. Well I think that I have made use of the power of this day, at least as much as I possibly could right now, have you? I have to get back to my novel now. Until next time…Make use of the power of this day but don’t relinquish that power when tomorrow comes!

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 10: The Toll of our Sacrifices

November 10, 2011 jcladyluv

Okay the early morning writing sessions are starting to take their toll on me. I am beginning to nod off at the keyboard while writing. My story isn’t slowing down, but that hour and a half earlier that I wake up every morning, that hour and a half of sleep that I am losing, is beginning to catch up with me. Nevertheless, November is not over yet and I must press on. This novel is not going to exactly write itself so it’s just a sacrifice I’m going to have to make. But we writers often make lots of sacrifices for the sake of our craft. There are some people that literally rearrange their whole routine during this month to write their novels and some people that lose a lot more sleep than an hour or so. They plan out simple, uncomplicated meals that don’t take up time that could be better spent writing, or they just buy T.V. dinners to fix during that month.

I think that sometimes people don’t realize what us writers go through and sacrifice just to put the words to paper and construct a story worthy enough of getting published, and interesting enough to get the readers attention. The books that people are so eager to buy from the stores or online take time and a lot of effort. But those same eager people are the one’s who just dismiss what we do and say that writing isn’t real work. I guess I say all of this because I have confronted by quite a few people lately that just shrug off my craft as just a simple hobby or something that everything else can be worked around. I see it as my work, my gift, my purpose, and something that everything else in my life (except my daughter) will have to be worked around.

Well I suppose I should get back to strategizing for tomorrow’s writing session. I like to prep for where I’m going next. Although sometimes where I intend to go in the story one day changes by the time I sit down the next morning but I at least try to be prepared. For all of you writer’s out there making huge sacrifices to be able to complete your novels this month, know that there are others doing the same thing and that your efforts do not go unappreciated. Until next time…Endure the sacrifice for right now to better enjoy the product that is yet to come!

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 6: Starbucks really does work wonders!

November 6, 2011 jcladyluv

Okay so I am at good ole Starbucks, drinking coffee that is probably way too high in calories but I got the job done for the day. I thought about the possibility of making this an everyday ritual or at least a ritual for every weekend but that could become way too costly and I already can’t afford the coffee I bought today. Yes another one of those rewards (just one given before the actual words were met for the day). Nevertheless, I wrote 1,700 words today which brings my total word count to 10,418 thus far. And what’s more is that my story seems to be flowing along beautifully. I am possibly having the best NaNoWriMo experience that I’ve had since beginning this process four years ago. I have not gotten stuck and my story hasn’t started to drag and I am grateful for that (hoping I haven’t jinxed myself). Tomorrow begins the early morning wake up sessions again for the week. I think Mackenzie might have a very complicated time this coming week. She’s about to be put through a lot. Stay tuned! Until tomorrow…Enjoy how far you’ve gotten so far and keep going!

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 5: Oh the Rewards that will follow!

November 5, 2011 jcladyluv

Okay so I had to really think last night of whether I was going to do the early morning wake up sessions for the weekends as well because I hadn’t really thought about it. That was an easy and quick decision. I need to make up for the lost sleep somewhere. It is also no easy to get my words done on a Saturday because I have so many other things to do as well but I just completed my words for today thanks to my local Starbucks. I am going to go get me some Chinese food now as my reward for dinner because I haven’t had it in a long time and I feel that I deserve it. I’m going to go home and watch a movie which I also haven’t done in a while and probably get even more inspired by whatever movie I decide to watch (haven’t made up my mind). Should I decide I want to laugh tonight I also have some stand up comedy on my DVR somewhere in the 93% of recorded items so either way I will make a good night out of it. I hope you all are doing well with your novels and that your characters are still speaking to you. Let me know how you’re doing. Until next time…Don’t forget to reward yourself along the way!

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/thediary.htm

NaNoWriMo Day 4: An In Between Day

November 4, 2011 jcladyluv

I love NaNoWriMo! Okay so I might not like getting up an hour earlier than normal but I suppose the reward of a finished novel at the end of thirty days helps make up for the lost sleep. There are some days where the characters are just speaking to you and you can’t even type or write fast enough to get everything it is that they’re trying to say. And there are the days when you feel like your characters are trying to tell you something but you don’t really know what it is so clearly you can’t convey their message.

Now granted today is not one of those days, it’s also not one where I can’t keep up with my characters train of thought but it is a good day in terms of writing. It was a day where things flowed adequately enough and I feel the story is moving along. I did however, start brainstorming ideas (along with my best friend and fellow NaNo-er) about how this could possibly have the potential to turn into a series but we will see how the story manages to unfold itself. I’m already getting signals pulling me in different directions then when I originally planned my outline.

Writing can be difficult, but it is so well worth every bit of blood (the red pen my best friend, the editor, uses to edit my work with), sweat (no I don’t really sweat over my story either), and tears (yes sometimes I really do cry with my characters), and did I forget agony. A writer takes his or her characters with her, wherever they go and that can be difficult because they tend to pop up and start talking to you out of the blue and then you look crazy because you actually answer them (or is that just me).

The writing process is already a task that is challenging and sometimes frustrating. But to try and write a whole novel in 30 days or at the very least have the framework of that novel put together is incredibly hard. I feel like I can’t afford to have an off day or a day where I fall behind in my word count because there is so much of this story that I feel needs to be told and I don’t want to leave anything out.

It’s a lot of pressure to write a novel, then to write it in 30 days, and then to have it actually be good. But I try not to think about what happens once I finish this thing because then I would have to think about my best friend and the RED ink from her trusty red pen that she likes to mark up people’s manuscripts with. Well I’m gearing up for a weekend full of…you guessed it, more writing. I hope that you all will be writing as well. And I hope that you guys will clue me in on some of your stories. Just a little teaser maybe! Until next time…Don’t stop writing yet!

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”