European
Waiting for my sandwich
At the table by the window
Rain dribbles down the glass
Past my face
I feel very European
Sitting at a cafe
Waiting for something sweet
And coffee
Happy Reading!
~ Eileen 🙂
poetry
NaNoWriMo Progress
Hey everyone!
In case you didn’t know, I’m participating in NaNoWriMo this year. This is day 3 and I just logged my updated word count at 8,211. I have a personal weekend goal of 5,000 words each day and weekday goal of 2,000 words per day. It’s pretty cool when you log your words, because you get a breakdown of what you have left, average words, and other neat information. Here’s a screen shot of my word dashboard. (Click on the picture to view a larger version – huge version actually.)
I’ve written 1,170 words today and I need to meet my personal goal of 5,000 words so I better get crackin’! I have 3,830 words left to go today! 🙂
Are any of you participating in NaNo this year? How’s it going? If you need some inspiration, check out my Resources Page for writing prompts, ideas and other resources.
Happy Writing!
~ Eileen 🙂
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Resource Saturdays: NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo
November is National Novel Writing Month! I know when I first started getting back into writing, I didn’t know where to begin. I wanted writing prompts and advice, outlets and ideas and among my searches, I kept seeing people talk about ‘NaNoWriMo’ and I had no idea what it was! Through some additional research, I finally figured out what it was and how useful it can be in helping me complete a novel in just one month. Although today is day 2 of NaNoWriMo, I wanted to share it anyway in the hopes of helping someone get a burst of inspiration. You can join at any time, so don’t let anything stop you!
What can NaNoWriMo do for me?
NaNoWriMo, or NaNo as most people refer to it, has many resources, boards, local groups and other resources to help you along your novel writing journey. Joining NaNo is free and allows you access to all of the NaNo tools and information.
During the month of November, there are daily posts with inspiration from other writers. Some of them are even famous writers. For example, the day 1 pep talk post was from James Patterson. Here’s a blurb to prove my point. This is not the whole Pep Talk post from Mr. Patterson, you’ll have to join NaNo to read the whole thing! 🙂
Your Author Dashboard allows you to track your novel, post information about your book and yourself, track your word count, earn badges and other things that keep you motivated and involved in writing your novel. You can create groups where you post your work, get feedback, and encourage one another to KEEP WRITING!
Here’s my Dashboard:
You may notice there are several tabs across the top of my dashboard, Author Info (showing), My Novels, Writing Buddies, Buddy Of, and Stats. Each of these tabs is available for free to all members. You can add writing buddies so you can send messages to each other, offer encouragement, or complain, whatever you need to say!
If you want to add me as your NaNo writing buddy, just search for ‘eileenmaki’ and you can add me!
Across the top of the screen in the above shot (brown menu bar) you can access the NaNo store where you can purchase goods or make a donation to NaNo. You can also find local NaNo events and join others in your area for a ‘Write In’ event or get together.
So what are you waiting for? Head on over to NaNoWriMo.org and get started. Once you have an account, or if you already have one, add me as a Writing Buddy and let’s get those novels written!
Happy Writing!
~ Eileen 🙂
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Resource Saturdays: Poets and Writers Classifieds
Hey There!
Are you guys all ready for Halloween? It seems like it sneaks up on me every year! On to the Resource! 🙂
While looking for submission calls, I stumbled across an oldie but a goodie. The Classified ads on the Poets and Writers website. They have lots of open calls for various markets and listings for groups, etc. It’s a pretty good place to check out once in a while.
Poets and Writers Classifieds
The Classifies page has some different categories to choose from: Manuscript Calls, Conferences, Contests, Publication, Retreats, Residencies, Resources, Services, and Workshops.
Once you make a selection, you can peruse the ads and choose options to pursue. The Contest section is my favorite. It’s got tons of resources to choose from. Check it out and let me know what you think.
The information is updated regularly, so I recommend you book mark it, or visit my Resources Page for the link at any time!
Happy Writing!
~ Eileen 🙂
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Memories of Rain
Memories of Rain
Softly the rain falls upon my upturned face
Like the slightly parted lips of God
The touch is velvet
Gentle and loving
Caressing and warm
All consuming
Like love
The rain reaches out and surrounds me
Like a woolen cloak
That enshrouds me
From the grievances
That I am better to forget
The scent assails me and fills my nostrils and lungs
With the pure scent of life
Throwing pictures of purity and
Innocence into my mind
I whirl and dance among the drops
Casting my arms in wide arcs
Hoping to catch each
And every drop
So I can keep them all for myself
In the palm of my hand
But like a broken dream
The drops slip through my fingers
And fall
Soundlessly to the ground
Lost among the soil
Like a seed
Waiting to grow and become
Someone else’s dream
Hoping to one day
Flourish and come true
I run and skip
Playing in and with the rain
Remember childhood games
And people
Long forgotten
The rain washes away my years
And I hurl myself
Headlong into the laughing
Embrace of the rain
The torrent falls
In immaculate sheets
Of joy and fortuitousness
Each bead containing
The unfulfilled dream
Or hope of a child
But nevertheless
Overflowing with bliss
I can feel my soul
Flying about me
So happy to be free
And I can
Taste the salt
Of my tears as the rain
Subsides
I stand
Hair tumbling about my face
And watch the retreating clouds
All the rain has left me
Is the memory of the cloak
And I am once again left
With my miseries
That I would be better
To forget
And I sit
And dream
And hope
And wait
For the rain to come
Again
Tell Your Friends:
Unexpectedly
Unexpectedly
The fleeting flame
That promises things
You never
Thought you’d have.
A piece of life
Something you cherish
Told it would never be
Handed to you
Unexpectedly.
Doubtfully
But yet
Full of timid hope.
Accepted in awe
Revered and feared
And finally loved
To be taken in an instant
Unexpectedly.
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Resource Saturdays: Random Word Generators
Hi Everyone!
As you may know by know, I like to use random word generators as inspiration and a general kick-in-the-pants for writing things on the fly. I usually use OneWord, but the other day, OneWord was on the fritz, so I sought ought another random word generator. I’ve posted a few on here before, and you can find them on my Resources page, but these few I just found deserved to be shared as well.
Random Word Generators
This is a really cool generator that will give you random words as well as random names. (By the way, clicking on the screen shots below will take you to that part of the site.)
When you visit the site, on the right side, there is a list of word generators to choose from. It looks like this:
The generators are really easy to use. My favorite word generator on this site is the Random Word Generator. It not only gives you a word, but also the definition.
This site also has random name generators. Click on Name Generator at the top of the site and you’ll see a list of name generators on the right.
As you can see, it’s not just a plain name generator. You can generate all kinds of names here. The part I like is that you can put in a part of the name and have the rest generated if you want. I have a terrible time making up last names for my characters, but I usually know what I want their first name to be.
For example, I’m starting a book where the main character’s name is Jenna. I can’t think of what Jenna’s last name should be. So, I can use the Last Name Generator, enter Jenna as the first name and click Generate.
Super useful!
Creative Random Word Generator
This one is more straight forward, with just some random words being generated. However, you can generate multiple random words at once by clicking on the numbers. Sometimes I find it handy to generate 5 words and try to use them all in my story, chapter, poem, or whatever I’m working on. So I can click on the 5 tile and get 5 words.
I might use each word at the start of a paragraph, chapter, scene, or other part of my story to give me a kick in the pants to get going!
I hope you like the resources this week, check back next week for more Resource Saturday goodies!
Happy Writing!
~ Eileen 🙂
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Resource Saturdays: How To Write A Book Now
Hi Everyone!
This week, I was looking for some ideas on how to organize my novels and how to better outline the plot and characters. I found a great website that I really think you’re going to like.
How to Write a Book Now
This website has so many great ideas, tips, and hints, that I just had to share it with you this week. From Plot Outlining to Character Development, this site has tons of ideas and advice.
For novel ideas, go to this page and scroll down to the Fun With Plot Summaries section. Some great ideas live here, the possibilities are endless!
Need tips on Character Development, take a peek at this page: How to Create Characters that are Believable and Memorable
Or check out my favorite part, How to Create a Plot Outline in 8 Easy Steps
Finish it all up with Writing an Outline of Your Novel
There are tons of great ideas and tips on this website, I recommend you book mark it, or visit my Resources Page
for the link at any time!
Happy Writing!
~ Eileen 🙂
Tell Your Friends:
Stolen
Stolen
Melancholy me
Joy is stolen
Hope ripped asunder
From the bowels of happiness
The shredded meat
That used to be
My heart.
Melancholy by Louis Jean Francois I Lagrenee
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Resource Saturdays: 20 Writing Tools
Hi Everyone!
I was perusing the ‘net for writing tools and found a really interesting piece by Alison Nastasi that lists ’20 Writing Tools of Famous Authors’. Â You can find the full article on FlavorWire.com, but I’ve summarized it here for you!
20 Writing Tools of Famous Authors
Many of our favorite writers have a special tool or method they use when writing their incredible works. From typewriters and notebooks to fountain pens and regular pencils, they use them all. Several authors, including Stephen King, use fountain pens because it causes them to write slower and think more when writing out longhand. Another tip about fountain pens is that you are forced to edit more thoroughly when putting your writing into a computer or other word processor.
Mark Twain, one of my personal favorites, designed tabbed notebooks where he would wear off the tabs on pages he had completed so he would know where the next blank page was. I have done a similar technique in compositions books, where I move a slim paper post-it to the next available page so I can turn to it quickly before and idea escapes me! Later in his life, when writing longhand became painful, Mr. Twain dictated his stories.
Jane Austen is one of my all time favorite authors. She used a steno style book and a quill pen with ink that had to stand in the ‘chimney corner fourteen days and be shaken two or three times a day.’ I was delighted by the short article on Jane, you can read the article HERE.
Truman Capote reportedly wrote his first version always in longhand with a pencil. The second version was also in longhand. The third version was typed on special yellow paper. Even in bed, with the typewriter balanced on his knees, he could type 100 words per minute!
Charles Dickens used standard black ink until the 1840s when he switched to blue ink. He often also used blue paper!
J. K. Rowling used loose leaf paper and pen to draft her Harry Potter books. Arthur Conan Doyle used a pen to write his famous Sherlock stories while Agatha Christie used her trusty Remington Home Portable Number 2 typewriter. Young adult author Judy Blume used paper and pencil to write her famous stories. She does use a computer sometimes, but usually likes to print them out and edit with a pencil.
What types of writing tools do you use? I love the feel of writing with a smooth pen on paper. There is something so creative and inspiring about it.
Happy Writing!
~ Eileen 🙂
Eileen Maki 