Tag: Writers

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My First Love

December 8, 2011December 8, 2011 jcladyluv

Okay I know what it sounds like this post is going to be about from the title, but it’s not about that kind of love. Yes I had one of those in high school but my first real love was writing and along with that came the state of New York. Now don’t laugh at me, but I have never actually been to New York but I am in love with it nonetheless.

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was six years old but I really started actually putting it into practice and really fell in love with words when I was ten. Being the constant information seeker that I’ve always been, I had always heard that if you want to be a writer, I mean really make it as a writer, you move to New York. Me and my friend in the fifth grade (who also wanted to be a writer) had made plans that we would graduate high school and go to college in New York together and be roommates.

Now of course that was fifth grade so that never panned out, but I have always in one way or another been trying to get to New York. There are other places I plan on getting to also, like France and Italy, but there’s just something about New York that is just pulling me in its direction. It is crazy to think that I am so head over heels for a city I’ve never even been to but I literally watch anything and everything that has to do with being a writer, and New York and if the two come together than that’s even better.

I say all of this to get around to telling you that one of my goals on my list for the coming year of 2012 is to actually visit New York. I plan to take in the sounds, the smells, the atmosphere, the sights (I wish I had got to go there before the destruction of theTwin Towers), the food, and yes even the traffic (lol!). I am going with my best friend, Ms. L. and we plan on having so much fun and I am really planning on this not being one of the items on my goal list that doesn’t ever happen. So cross your fingers and hope that I make it to where my heart has truly been since I was ten. Until tomorrow…Where would you go to if you ever got the chance?

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

Putting Yourself Into Your Work

December 7, 2011 jcladyluv

I was reading an article in a writer’s magazine today that talked about how this particular author always incorporated a little piece of herself and her life, whether it be childhood or adulthood, into her novels. They are not autobiographical per say but in some ways each of them give away some aspect of who she is. I started thinking about the book of novel storylines that I have that I want to work on and realizing that in some ways I do the same thing.

Now my first novel (The Diary: Succession of Lies) is very much based on some true events that I experienced and worked into the novel. The second one that I want to get published (When Love Calls; currently awaiting the editing phase) may be a little less based on accurate details but I totally identify with my main character as if a piece of me is in her even though she and I are not really alike. With the current novel that I worked on during NaNoWriMo and am still working on (Through the Looking Glass) right now is so far a part from any real experience I have ever been through but yet I identify with my main character, Mackenzie, so much. Now Mackenzie and I are absolutely nothing alike but yet I feel so in tune with her.

How is it that I can be so in tune with a character that I am nothing alike? Isn’t it funny how sometimes when you are telling a story you can identify with a particular character that you really have nothing in common with? But then again that’s the joy and excitement of writing novels. You get to tell stories that you would probably never actually live through and if you want to throw in a few real life experiences you can do that too. Until tomorrow…How much of yourself do you put into your stories?

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

A Wish to be a More Avid Reader

December 6, 2011 jcladyluv

“Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the most. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.”
~William Faulkner

A writer is supposed to also be a really good reader as well and I have to admit that, while I used to be, I am not the best at reading. Not since I have thrown myself more into writing and concentrating on perfecting my writing skills and techniques. I make an honest effort every year to try and do better at maintaining my reading pace. When I make my list of books to read I try to put a little bit of everything on the list from romantic novels and mysteries, to some writing instruction books as well as motivational books. I typically find myself only completing about half of my enormous list that I actually think I can read in a year.

I suppose I would like to think that I could still read at the same pace that I used to read (like ten years ago). But in reality I know that as I get more and more into writing my novels and other writing projects, I most likely won’t be able to read at that same rate but that never stops me from trying. This year I am really going to attempt to make a manageable list that I will hopefully complete. However instead of packing it with an eclectic mix of genres as I normally would I am going to be reading all mysteries next year. For the last few books on this year’s list I’ve chosen the mystery books and I am really getting into the mystery genre. I really like Sue Grafton and J.D. Robb novels right now.

Also since my novel is a mystery and I am beginning a series, then it seems that I like to write mysteries as well. So if any of you have any mysteries that you would like to suggest for my 2012 reading list I sure would like to hear them. I have a few of my own already to put on there but I still would like to hear what books you would recommend. Well I have a list to go finish. Until tomorrow…What’s on your reading list?

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

Hidden on Purpose

December 5, 2011December 5, 2011 jcladyluv

“The greatest thing about being hidden is that you can be underestimated.”

~Tyler Perry

I admit that I am guilty of watching (probably what most writers would consider) way too much T.V. I am a soap opera junky and I love movies (mostly suspense and drama), and yes I love my drama TV shows as well, such as Law and Order SVU and Unforgettable and many others. I know the saying is that if you want to carve out more time to write and be an all around better writer then you need to cut out the unnecessary time wasters, which most would (arguably) consider television to be one of them. But I have my reasons for watching so much television.

I watch it not so much for the entertainment value (okay I will admit soap operas are entertaining to me) but from the standpoint of a writer. I watch with the knowledge that I would love to write for a lot of these shows and quite frankly in terms of soap operas I think that being a lifetime watcher of a lot of them I would be a great asset as a writer because they change writers so often I think that the new writers don’t research the show and its history very well. Some of the inconsistencies are really just ridiculous.

I sit back and look at some of these shows and movies thinking I could write stuff like that, hell I can write some things better than that. And then I find myself being a tad bit (okay maybe a lot) envious. I wonder, why is my talent going unnoticed? Why are there so-called writers (you know the ones, those with good story but bad writing technique) who are making millions of dollars off a book, and then movie when I not only have good stories but I can actually convey them well in written form. Why am I going unnoticed?

Every time I get this feeling of envy (which I know that it is wrong to be even somewhat envious of others successes) I remind myself of something I came across on Tyler Perry’s website in his inspirational corner. He does these motivational segments via video and sends out emails of them every so often. There was one particular video segment that made me see things a little differently. He spoke about a friend of his who also wondered why his talents and his hard work continued to go unnoticed and he couldn’t seem to get to where he was trying to get to. That he would get close but then it just wouldn’t pan out somehow.

Tyler’s words of wisdom to his friend, was that maybe he was being hidden on purpose. He told him that it just wasn’t his time to be seen yet. He said “sometimes in life, God wants your story to be such a miracle that she shuts down every avenue, so that you can only go to him for the answer.” He pointed out that there is an appointed time for everything and that everything that is supposed to happen in your life will happen.

The best thing that he said that really stuck with me was that “if you walk in the path that you are supposed to at this point in time, then at the right time, God will reveal you, your talents, and everything you’ve done to the world.” So when I am sitting back and wondering what all of my hard work and good writing is for when it continues to go unnoticed, I just have to keep thinking to myself, it’s not my time to be seen yet.

I am going to continue to walk in the path in which I am supposed to walk, carrying out the purpose that God put me on this earth for, knowing that when God feels it is my time to be seen then I will shine the brightest that I could ever possibly shine. Of course I have to keep reminding myself of this constantly when I am feeling a little envious of those writers who are already where I feel I should be right now. I suppose I should just feel pure joy for those who are shining and being seen right now because they are paving the way for me to be seen when it is my time and when it is my time I will certainly be ready. Until tomorrow…Get ready, your time is coming too!

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 30: Just In Time

November 30, 2011 jcladyluv

Okay I was really beginning to doubt whether I could make it. But I DID IT! 50,002 words. I completed this year’s National Novel Writing Month successfully. And let me tell you I think this might have been the hardest day of the whole month. The feeling of not being sure whether I was going to finish or not was lingering over my head. With all of the other characters that were beginning to tell me of what the next book in the series should be about I could hardly concentrate.

Well as most of you writers out there, a novel consists of way more than 50,000 words so as you might imagine my novel is not actually finished so I still have the personal challenge of finishing this novel. But that won’t be hard because I am so excited to finish and so excited to see where this book will end because I had an ending all planned out in my outline but as so much of this story has gone off the course of the outline, so to will my ending. I have already seen the vision of the new ending in my head and by time I get to the end that might change as well. Well I am going to bed now to rest my fingers and my mind so that I can come back to the keyboard tomorrow but this time I won’t have the added pressure. Well I take that back because I have a new online Magazine to finish putting together for its release in January. Goodnight all you writers out there. I hope you were successful as well and if not, trying is half of the battle and it is better to have tried then to never have tried at all. Until tomorrow!

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 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”