What Exactly is an Avid Reader?

May 6, 2015May 5, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello, hello, hello! I have a confession to make. As much as I love books, I’m not a voracious reader. I think that one summer when I read like 15 books (including the uncut version of The Stand) kind of killed that part of me. Granted, there are some books that I can still binge read, but usually two or three chapters at a time is all I can sit still for. But it’s important for a writer to be an avid reader, right? Well, yes and no.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely important to keep up with what’s hot in your genres, and reading certainly is key to improving your own writing. It’s the word “avid” that I take issue with. Mostly because people seem to mix up avid (“having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something,” according to Google) and voracious (“wanting or devouring great quantities” of something). In other words, yes you should be an avid reader, but that doesn’t necessarily mean being a voracious reader.

You might be thinking that I’m splitting hairs with this, but am I really? We all read at a different paces (and I happen to be on the slower end of the spectrum), so my “avid” is going to be different from yours. I have friends who talk about the three books they started and finished within a week, and others who read two or three books simultaneously. Meanwhile, I’m not even halfway through a book I started a week ago! For a long time, that frustrated me. It was like I was doing this whole reading thing wrong.

But then I wondered how exactly one could go wrong with reading. You can’t. Not really. About the only way you can go wrong with reading is by not doing it. I finally figured out that I am an avid reader, despite the fact that I read fairly slow and don’t binge read as much as others. I’m perfectly okay with that now. Plus, I’ve discovered other areas of reading in which I most certainly am voracious. Manga is one of those areas. I can read three volumes in one sitting if left to my own devices. I think it’s partly because the pictures keep me from getting distracted the way I do with “big girl” books that have no illustrations. I’m not ashamed to admit that.

Anyway, I guess what I’m getting at is that reading is important, but don’t let the reading rates of other people discourage you. And for the super fast readers, keep it up! Don’t look at us slowpokes like we’re nuts when we say things like “wow, that’s a lot,” though. Everyone should be comfortable with their own pace. As long as you find the magic meant for you in the book, that’s all that really matters!

Read on! Write on! I’m off to get lost in the book I’m currently (slowly) working my way through. Have a great day! I’ll see you next week!

A Look Inside Scarborough Faire Renaissance Festival

April 29, 2015April 28, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 1 Comment

Hi all! I know I said I’d be doing a food review today (don’t worry, food will be involved), but this one’s going to be a little more expansive since you can’t JUST talk about the treats at a renfest. I admit I didn’t get any pictures, so they will either be borrowed from Scarborough Faire’s website or Facebook page, or they will be from my older collections. The same rating scale shall apply.

MMMMM = Everything is magnificent!
MMMM = Great, but something is off.
MMM = Pretty good, but a couple of things could be better.
MM = The bad’s starting to outweigh the good.
M = Definitely more cons than pros.
… = I couldn’t find anything nice to say.

1511148_737607642918175_1298054434_n — The first sign you see when passing through the gate! From their Facebook page.

Scarborough Faire Renaissance Festival
2511 FM 66
Waxahachie, TX 75167

I’m going to get a little more in depth on accessibility here than I usually do, simply because there’s more to talk about. It’s a renfest, so there are dirt roads (usually fairly well maintained, though it was a bit bumpy this year), there’s gravel, there’s rocks, there’s grass. In other words, it’s out in nature. Don’t expect a super smooth ride. The majority of the artisan booths have accessible entrances, but due to shifts in the rocks and gravel and all that, even the accessible entrances aren’t always accessible. Not to fear! I’ve never run across an uppity booth owner. They usually offer to bring things to me for a closer look if I can’t get to their stuff. Nice people do exist! Eating areas… These places are usually picnic-style tables, so your best bet is to grab a corner or hold stuff in your lap. Lastly, if you’re not careful on the varying terrains, you might just get stuck (I’ve done it). Don’t freak out. There are always people around who are willing to help. I got stuck once this last trip, and before Dad could walk the five steps back to me, someone was asking if they could help. In conclusion, the whole accessibility thing might be a little wonky at times, but the faire does its best to make sure everyone gets the full experience. Plus, when all else fails, kind and helpful people exist, and apparently they all go to Scarborough Faire.

11096485_975425675803036_3049872483724040557_o — Beef ribs! From their Facebook page.

On to the food… Best turkey legs ever (so good that I couldn’t find a picture without someone’s face in the way)! The beef ribs are a must have. Ignore the fancy presentation, you’ll get meat and possibly chips, which I’m totally okay with. If you’re looking for veggies, search the plethora of kitchens. I’m sure you’ll find something. Also, you can find pretty much anything you want on a stick, including key lime pie. There’s lots of sweets. For the drinkers among us, I suggest the mead. They also have a decent selection of beer and wine and a few frozen choices.

100_1012 — An eagle from the Birds of Prey show in 2009. From my collection.

The faire has entertainment for all ages and most senses of decency. You can’t be a total prude at a renfest, it’s just not possible. There are too many fun shows to run through them all, so pick up a program and check out what intrigues you. Don Juan and Miguel are always fun. Iris and Rose are great if you’re into the naughty side of things. And, for the more literary minded, go see Zilch the Tory Steller. Or just walk around and people watch. It’s not creepy when you do that here!

I suppose I should mention that this isn’t a cheap endeavor, but I still encourage you to splurge one day and get your geek on. It’s fun! Do eet!

And lastly, the rating:
MMMMM
(Normally, the accessibility issues would have knocked off an M, but they get an A+ for effort!)

Bridging the Gap: Moving from Piece to Piece

April 22, 2015April 21, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello there! I was going to do another food blog this week, but I think I’ll save it for next week. Since I recently sent my novel out to readers for feedback, I’ve forbidden myself from even looking at it (it’s not fair to my readers if I change things before they have a chance to critique what I’ve sent), so I’m trying to work on a collection of fairytale retellings. Trying being the operative word. So, I want to talk a little about shifting gears for new pieces.

Back when all I wrote were short stories, I had very little problem switching to a new project, but things have changed. I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve spent so long in my novel’s world or what, but this is basically the most terrifying thing in my world right now.

blank-page1 — A wild blank page appeared!

Yes, a blank page. I have ideas galore, but when I see this, they all up and run away on me. I can’t be the only one with this problem, right? So, how do you deal with it? (Legit asking because I’m still trying to figure it out.) Also, why is it so scary when you have a plethora of ideas to work on? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t sit down and let the ideas duke it out as I stare at the page (that’s even scarier), I pick one and sit down with the intention of focusing on it. It’s a very confusing time for me.

I’ve tried a couple of tactics to combat the blank mind as well as the blank page. The first thing was to take a day away from writing. Normally, a day without writing is enough to recharge and start building new stories in my head, but the blank page prevailed. My second go-to plan is to suck it up and push through it. So far, this has gotten me 1500 words over three days (no, that’s not good!). It’s like pulling teeth to get the words out, and it’s getting harder instead of easier.

Don’t worry. I didn’t come here just to complain, I came to share tactics for moving on. The ones above just didn’t work for me this time. Next up, after I force my way through the current story of doom, if I’m still having issues, I’ll revert to free writing and using writing prompts until jumping around feels natural again (plus, I’ll get new story ideas if I’m lucky). The only reason I didn’t try this first is because I’m not a fan of aimless writing. It feels like I’m wasting time, even though I know that’s not the case. In other words, even if you’re like me and think everything should work towards something, but you’re struggling, try the aimless course. No pressure words tend to flow easier. Use it to your advantage. And bonus: you get new story ideas!

Another thing… Part of me wonders if it would be easier to start something new if it was in the same world as the last, like a sequel or something. I suppose I’ll find out one day. Enough about me, what about you? What are your tactics for switching between projects? Feel free to share!

A Nod to National Poetry Month

April 15, 2015April 15, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Welcome, all! I fully admit that I had no idea what to write about today, then I remembered that it’s National Poetry Month. I could take the easy way, and post one of my favorite poems, but I won’t do that. Instead, I’ll show you a poem that I wrote for one of my undergrad poetry courses. There’s not much you need to know. It was inspired by my love of Visual Kei bands, and a particular song, “Psycho Butterfly” by Kaya. In case you’re curious, I’ll put a link to the song at the end.

Kaya4 — Kaya. The man (you read that right) whose song, Psycho Butterfly, inspired the poem.

Psycho Butterfly
For all pretty females of the Visual Kei style that just happen to be males.

Pretty colors mask the truth, poisonous to some.
Seduce them in then blow their minds.
            Sighs entice
            Eyes alight
            Legs ensnare
            Innocence bare
            And beaten away
You’re not what you seem.
Caught in your deceptive exterior, there’s no escape.
            Meaning disappears
            Awakening fears
            Not yet voiced
            At the sound of your voice
Helpless when you sing for their souls,
Only finding out when it’s too late.
            Hidden in your wings
            Intriguing desires
            Zap their strength
            And exhaust their mind
            Keeping them from the truth
            Inches from their thighs

Beauty that demands attention, none can ignore.
Under sun, under moon, under sheets,
            Touching gently
            Ecstatic fantasy
            Repels the time
            Until the discovery is made
They only love you until they know you.
That secret that you don’t try to hide yet
Everyone blames you for.
            Keen eyes
            Aggravate
            Your insensibility
            And push you further into your cage
Reality crashes down on their fantasies
            Masculine tendencies
            Incense their senses
            Yet drive them away
            Angry at the world
            Vying against their own desires
            It’s always that way
Fly away while they fall.
Look for a new predator that’ll play for keeps, but for now
You’ll keep teaching that love’s not skin deep.

Revision: Why So Serious?

April 8, 2015April 8, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 1 Comment

Welcome, new and old visitors! I noticed that I have a few strangers stalking me, so first things first… It’s nice to meet you! Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy day to check out my ramblings.

On to today’s topic of choice, revising (also known as majorly editing your own work). I know a lot of people who seriously despise the whole revision process. I used to be one of them. It was tedious and boring and the words we write should be perfect the first time around, right? Wrong! Once I actually started editing my work for more than spelling and grammar (in case you haven’t noticed, I use revising and editing interchangeably since I do both at the same time. See the chart below for the difference), I realized that it was really only tedious and boring in spots because the story itself was bogged down or too light in those spots. In other words, the original writing wasn’t perfect, thus revisions were needed. It’s a vicious cycle, I know.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve actually learned to enjoy revising my work. Not just because I know everything will be better for it, but because it can be fun. The key is to not take it so serious. Sometimes, it will take multiple revisions to mold a story or poem or whatever into something you deem presentable. That’s okay! So, here are the top three reasons I like revising.

1. The story is most likely done, so there’s no pressure to find an ending! You’ve got one. Now, it’s about polishing the words on the page to make everything make sense. You already know where the story’s going, you just have to fill in the plotholes and give the reader a smooth ride.

2. Nothing is set in stone! You can make all the changes you want. If you don’t like a change you made, change it back. See a major flaw? Guess what! Revision is your chance to fix it. Don’t like that adjective? Find a new one. Think a character needs to be removed? Do it. This is your chance to fix all the things, big and small.

3. Lastly, you have a chance to look objectively at your work. I know that sounds like utter BS to most writers, because we’re so invested in our characters’ lives during the writing process that they become special to us. However, it’s important to get some distance, then honestly evaluate your own writing. It not only makes for a better story, but if we recognize our weaknesses, it makes handling criticism a whole lot easier. You don’t want to be like this cat.

As much as I have come to like the revision process, I want to conclude with a word of caution. I know I said not to take the process too seriously, but you also can’t take the end result too serious. We all strive for perfection (which is great and all), but don’t let it stop you from getting your work out there. I’m sorry to say that there will always be someone who doesn’t like your writing. No matter how much you change, it’s not going to please everyone. As long as you like it, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Imperfection is a wonderful thing! It makes it real.

On Incentives and Rewards

April 1, 2015March 31, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 1 Comment

Hi again! Since I finished the first draft of my novel last week (no, not an April fool’s joke!), I thought I’d talk a little bit about incentives and rewards in writing. This all came about because a friend asked me what I was going to do to celebrate, and I had zero ideas. Apparently a lot of people set up small rewards (or large ones for bigger feats) for each step they complete. Of course I have a reward picked out for a challenge as big as my first pro pay publication, and I have my daily incentives, so why didn’t I have anything ready for something like finishing a draft? It’s a big step. It deserves to be celebrated!

So, I want to list some of my personal incentives for different occasions, and encourage you to create your own.

Daily Rewards: These usually include things that I would do whether or not I had daily goals to meet. Watch anime, play games, eat a piece of chocolate. Little things like that make the idea of sitting down to write more fun. Think of it as a little paycheck each day! It’s something to work for.

Finished Draft/Major Edits Rewards: These are major milestones for a writer. I’m a little ashamed to know that I didn’t plan anything for my first one. I did take the day after off, but that was nothing special. Luckily, a friend invited me and my dad to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, so I’m calling that my reward. I’m also making a list of potential days out for future reference. These accomplishments are definitely worthy of a concert or movie or trip to a museum or arboretum or something.

Publication Rewards: These should be something special. I know some people who have parties or go on trips, and others who splurge on nice dinners. A weekend getaway or fancy meal sounds wonderful to me. Personally, I’m considering a tattoo for my first paying publication. It’s something I’ve wanted for a while, but never really had the courage to go through with (I’m not too fond of needles). Maybe getting published will be the special moment I need to push me forward with it. If not, a fancy dinner and maybe some dancing works just as well as a reward!

I’m sure there are other accomplishments that need to be celebrated in a writer’s life, like being translated into another language, but I’m nowhere near that level yet. When I get closer, I’ll be sure to think of incentives and rewards for those things as well.

Since a writer’s pay isn’t exactly regular, it’s good to come up with your list of awards ahead of time. Not only as incentives to complete the difficult (sometimes eye twitch inducing) work, but also so you can save up for them. And remember that the bigger the goal, the more special, and possibly personal, the reward should be. It can be as simple as watching the sunrise or extravagant as a five star dinner. That’s up to you. Have fun with it!

A Look Inside Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill

March 25, 2015March 24, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 2 Comments

Hi all! I’ve decided to go ahead and review another restaurant. Once a month seems like a good number for the moment. Today, we’re going to look at one of Dallas’s seafood joints, Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill. There are a number of locations for Half Shells under a couple of different names (see their website for the one nearest you), but I’m lucky enough to be near the original in Snider Plaza (across Hillcrest Ave from SMU, next to Kuby’s).

feb4274796d93ff716e9650163a77fb8_M — Borrowed from the website above.

Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill – Snider Plaza
6617 Snider Plaza
Dallas, TX 75205

First off, a reminder of my rating system:

Accessibility-wise, this place is a bit of a tight squeeze, but if you can get in when it’s not too busy and can snag a table by the door, it’s perfect. The table height is mid-normal, which is great for me. There’s also outside seating (again, tight but not impossible). My biggest problem with the outdoor tables are that they have a lip underneath, so I can’t pull up to them properly (my knees are too high). Personally, I don’t mind putting the plate in my lap, so I can make it work.

Next up, service. The service at Half Shells is almost always good. In all the times I’ve been, I think a waiter ignored my existence once and only until he realized I was capable of speech. There was one rude hostess who caused us to leave, but that was an unusual experience. Otherwise, they’re usually very good about not bringing things out too fast or rushing. Some are better than others about keeping up with drinks, but the food makes up for it.

Speaking of food, when Dad, a friend, and I went last Thursday, we had blue point oysters and crab bisque to start. Delicious! If you like oysters on the half shell and they have blue points (a special usually), it’s worth it. The bisque was amazing as well. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures, but there are pictures of the entrées.

Half Shells has twice daily specials (lunch and dinner). Dad and I usually order off the board, but the things I’ve had from the menu are equally as good. They have one of the best selections of fish we’ve been able to find in Dallas because of the specials. This time, I got the trout special, Dad had red snapper, and Sarah (the friend who didn’t warn us she was now vegan) had french fries.

060 — Dad’s salad, asparagus, and snapper. My green beans, mashed potatoes, and trout.

063 — The lovely Sarah and her waffle fries.

As always, the food was superb. I don’t think we’ve ever run across a bad entrée here.

Dessert is a little less than thrilling. They have it listed on another specials board, so a few things usually change. It’s always been good, especially when they have one of their berry cobblers (divine!), but otherwise it’s pretty ordinary. Dad got a chocolate cherry mousse cake and I got a pecan cobbler (they didn’t have anything vegan for dessert). Both were good, but definitely not the highlight of the meal.

Price: It’s seafood in Dallas. In other words, a little pricy, but for the quality and selection of the fish, totally worth it.

Overall rating:
MMMM

A Day in the Life

March 18, 2015March 17, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello all! So, I was chatting with the beautiful Danielle Rose, trying to come up with a topic for this week’s post. She suggested I talk about my routine a little more, even going as far as telling you about my usual day. In other words, blame her for this.

Honestly, today (Tuesday, March 17, 2015) was really hard writing-wise, so I suppose it’s as good a day as any to use. My daily routine always starts with the hour and a half+ long process of getting out of bed and into a presentable state. I won’t bore you with the details. Anyway, I’m usually up and active by 1:30 or so.

At this point, I usually putz around on Facebook and check my personal email and all that fun stuff, or I work on a crossword puzzle. Today I did all of the above. I also started playing that stupid trivia game that’s so popular right now. Trivia Crack? Whatever. It’s basically multiple choice Trivial Pursuit. So, that also took up some time before breakfast.

Again, I eat food instead of modeling it. Breakfast is usually about an hour, and it’s TV time #1 of my day. Afterwards (around 3:00, 3:30), it’s supposed to be time to work. Some days go better than others. Today was not one of those days.

I stared at the page for a few minutes, then said screw it, and gave myself until 4:30 to work on the crossword (that was less than half an hour). Then I stared at WordPress for a while. Sometimes, if I write the blog post first, it gets me in my writing rhythm. That didn’t work. So, I read through the last chapter I had written, all the way to the point where I had stopped. Again, this is a technique to get the writing juices flowing.

It kind of worked. I got down a couple of hundred words, then remembered that I hadn’t posted on my social media author profiles. I gave myself ten minutes to find something and get it shared, then back to writing. I got another hundred words down, then took another five minutes break.

Normally, I’m done with my words around 6:00. Today, dinner rolled around (7:30ish) and I still wasn’t done. I took the hour break and instead of hanging around for the usual couple of hours of TV, I went back to work.

That was when I hit my stride. Granted, I ended the day with only 905 words on the novel (it’s over my 900 words goal, so it counts) around 9:30, but I did it. Then, I came here to write this post (another ~500 words)!

The point is, it took me for-freakin’-ever, but I didn’t give up. I set my goals and I met them. You can do it too! Even with unplanned for distractions last week (babysitting), I managed to meet my goals. It helps to have people who support you and help you out. It also helps that I have nothing else to do. However, look at all the breaks I took! Maybe writing can be done when you’re avoiding your responsibilities (we all do it, it’s okay). Take a break, write some words, have fun!

Top 5 Distractions and How Not to Avoid Them

March 11, 2015March 10, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Welcome! Last time, I talked a little about creating a writing schedule, so I thought I would discuss distractions a bit. Now, I know people who swear by eliminating ALL distractions, even if that means cutting off all those fancy electronics they’ve collected over the years. I’m not one of them. Personally, I believe in indulging those procrastination itches in moderation.

I’m going to go through the top five instances of procrastination (and yes, realizing that that’s what they are is half the battle) I face or hear about , so I can show you what I mean by “moderation.”

1. Let’s start with the hardest one: Social Media. Who really goes more than half an hour without checking the Book of Faces or Tweeter or whatever social site is hot that week? It’s damn near impossible. I know. I get those urges, even when I know I’m supposed to be writing. I don’t suggest going cold turkey. If you’re anything like me, ignoring the urge only makes you fixate more. I moderate things by only allowing myself a five minute break when I hit a lull in writing. Even then, I limit myself to checking my professional accounts or my writing group. Otherwise, I’d get sucked down the rabbit hole.

2. The most annoying of all: Calls/texts. It’s not annoying because of the people (unless they know it’s your writing time and do it anyway), but because we have this weird desire to know who did what when. Personally, I keep my phone in sight. I allow myself that half-second glance to see if it’s important. If it is (it rarely ever is), I respond. If it’s not, I write on, assured in my knowledge that I’m not missing anything important (aka everyone I know is safe and nothing life-threatening is happening)!

3. Music. I classify this as a distraction because many people think it is. I allow it to play while I work. Once I get into a scene, nothing can really pull me out of it. If you’re the type to get easily distracted by music, but still want to listen while writing, I suggest instrumentals or something in a language you don’t speak. That way, you’re less inclined to sing along and lose focus.

4. TV Shows. I rarely get this urge, but I know it pesters a lot of people. When it does strike during writing hours (or bursts or however you write), if I’m in a lull (always wait for a lull), I let myself look at the episode description and remind myself that watching that episode will be my reward when I’m done doing productive things.

5. Food and drink breaks. A lot of people I know sit down to write and are suddenly overwhelmed with hunger or thirst. Lies! It’s just your brain saying “Waah… I don’t know what to write.” My advice, keep a drink with you and keep snacks in your writing area. My chocolate and Pocky stashes are on my desk. Pick something bitesized and keep it nearby.

I guess what all this is meant to convey is that you don’t need to eliminate distractions. In my experience, it’s better to acknowledge and moderate them. All work and no play makes work freakin’ unbearable. Just make sure to limit yourself so you still get your work done!

Schedules vs. Spontaneity

March 4, 2015March 3, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 2 Comments

Hello all! Today, I want to talk about having a schedule vs. being spontaneous when writing. I chose this topic because I hear a lot of people complain about not having time to write or not being able to find the words when they do have the time. I’ve also found that, more often than not, these people don’t have a writing schedule. Some people can make the whole spontaneous writing lifestyle work, many can’t. That’s okay!

Personally, I have a schedule that has some spontaneity built into it. I write five days a week. Never on Sunday. That extra day off, I decide based on 1) whether I have anything to do during that week that will require a day off, or 2) how I feel any given day. I tend to try to save that day for later in the week, even Saturday if I feel like it. That’s where the spontaneity fits into my writing schedule.

Now, I’m lucky in a lot of ways because I don’t have a full schedule in the first place, so my life can revolve around my writing. Many aren’t so lucky. However, while they’re complaining about not having time to write, they’re surfing Facebook or watching Netflix or any other number of entertainment tasks. Yes, entertainment is important. You need time to relax, which is why taking days off is important, but if you can binge watch your favorite show on Netflix, then you can schedule some writing time!

For a long time, I was a spontaneous writer. I used every excuse in the book to avoid writing, including that the Muse is a fickle bitch (an excuse I hear repeatedly). I admit, even after two years on a schedule, I still have days where it’s hard to get started. In the beginning, I spent more days free writing than actually working on specific projects, but even that kind of writing was productive. From that, I can now say I have four ideas for future novels. And now that I’m on a schedule, when I sit down to write, it’s much easier to actually do the writing (even on difficult days). Writing, like anything else, becomes a habit if you do it enough. You just have to train your brain into thinking “oh, hey, this is when we write.” Yes, you will have crappy days, but craptastic words can be edited into something magnificent, zero words can’t!

I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you’re having a hard time finding time to write, take a good look at your daily schedule. Yeah, you might have to DVR that episode of Bones and watch it on your day off, but BOOM! There’s an hour for writing. Going to play that video game for fifteen minutes? Wait until your day off and surprise! (If you’re anything like I used to be when gaming, fifteen minutes = three hours) You have three hours to write! Yes, it’s hard. Especially nowadays, when instant gratification is so easy to achieve. But if you can stand to put off the entertainment for even a little while, you can make your own writing schedule. It seriously helps. Go on. Try it.

Shawna's Blog of Doom

Maybe just randomness

Author: shawnaborman