A Look Inside St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin

June 24, 2015June 23, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 6 Comments

Hey there! It’s been another week, so I suppose it’s time for me to start rambling again. Instead of the usual, I’d say it’s about time to do another food review! This month, I think I’ll give St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin over in Deep Ellum its due. It’s on Commerce for all those familiar with the area. Everyone else should check their website (linked above). Now, I know I promised you something different in the last food blog, and it is different. I swear it’s not JUST seafood. They have all sorts of things. At least it’s not another oyster bar. Anyhoo, here’s your reminder of the rating system:

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.

029 — These stirrers used to say St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin, but I suppose times change. Still pretty neat!

As usual, let’s start with accessibility. It’s a bit of a tight fit navigating the tables for larger wheelchairs (like my own), especially if the Dancing Marlin is packed. We usually go on Sunday evenings or late afternoons during the week to avoid crowds. Aside from that, the tables are a great height. Most of them are rectangular, but they do have some round tables if those work better for you. Occasionally, the floor feels like it’s going to give way (not technically an accessibility issue, but extra scary when you’re in a heavy chair), so it’s kind of an adventure!

The service. The wait staff at the Dancing Marlin gets bonus points because they don’t normally act like I’m invisible. That’s always a good thing. The waiter today was attentive (kept our drinks full, answered questions, etc.), didn’t bring our food out too fast (we had time to finish things), and never once made us feel rushed. The staff also consisted of people who calmly dealt with someone who was sitting outside complaining about a fly in their drink (it’s summer in Texas and you’re drinking wine outside. Put something over your glass if you don’t want flies in it. C’mon, now). No complaints there.

Now, the important stuff: food! For an appetizer, we got calamari. It was good. Not too chewy. Had a nice crust. It wasn’t my favorite thing there, but it was tasty. Now, if you like garlic half as much as I do, I definitely suggest the baked garlic appetizer. Yes, they bake garlic. For the not-so-garlicky people, there are other delicious choices as well.

As far as entrees go, they have a decent selection from pizzas to pastas, burgers to hot dogs. The Dancing Marlin also has a tuna steak (it comes in a number of ways). Dad got the grilled tuna salad (tuna steak on a salad) with grilled mushrooms, onions, and jalapeños. They sure know how to cook a tuna steak! Dad always gets it rare (how else would you eat it), so it’s pink and tender and delicious. And the salad definitely wasn’t skimpy. It was a real meal.

I usually get penne with red clam sauce (highly recommend it), but I decided to get something different this time. I went with the F. B. Combo (catfish fillet and shrimp) with pasta salad instead of fries. The fish and shrimp were crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The breading wasn’t salty, but seasoned nicely. And the pasta salad… I normally don’t like pasta salad, but I figured I’d give it a shot. It was actually pretty yummy! I was impressed.

Dessert. The selection here is pretty strange. Baklava, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and ice cream bars. Personally, I suggest the baklava. It’s a tiny serving, but super sweet, and a perfect little end to a wonderful meal.

And, of course, we must talk about price. It’s actually not too bad. It’s not often we look at a check expecting it to be a certain amount and have it turn out to be less. It happens at the Dancing Marlin.

My overall rating:
MMMM

See you next week with more writerly randomness!

Word Count? Who Needs That?

June 17, 2015June 16, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 4 Comments

Hello, hello! It’s that time again. Today, I want to talk a bit about word count. It’s a subject that Lew Andrada suggested when I asked for questions and comments and all that. It’s also a subject I struggle with, because it’s pretty arbitrary. Anyone you ask seems to have a different answer when it comes to the correct lengths of things.

We’ve all encountered a scenario like this one. I actually kind of think that’s where the concepts of word counts really help (me at least). It gives me a firm goal to keep in mind and work toward, that way I can have a more realistic idea of how long a project will take me to finish.

So, how do I approach word count? I keep it simple! I basically follow SFWA’s counts for the Nebula awards. In other words, these rules:

Short Story: less than 7,500 words.
Novelette: 7,500 words to 17,500 words.
Novella: 17,500 words to 40,000 words.
Novel: 40,000 words or more.

Now, I know that “novel” is an extremely broad category that can be broken down by genres or even target audience age. In fact, the list above is just one example of many break downs you’ll find with a quick Google search. No, none of them are the same. Yes, it gets really confusing really fast. On top of all that, you also have lists for middle grade, young adult, adult, and a relatively new category dubbed new adult. It’s complicated. I don’t like complicated things.

In other words, I don’t bother with all of that crap. My goal is based on my story. If I’m going for a flash fiction piece (<1000), I usually aim for 900 words. A short story? Around 5,000 words. A novel? It depends on what it feels like. I tried for 70,000 to 75,000 for my first novel after tons of research on word count. It is a supernatural YA, so on top of feeling like a good amount, it also turns out to be a fairly average count for that type of book. The novel I’m currently working on is different. I’m going more by my gut for this one. My current aim is 80,000 to 90,000 just because that’s what it feels like it will need. I’m sure my past research is playing some kind of unconscious role, but whatever.

On the other hand, enforcing a word count can lead to fears of rambling. Don’t worry! You can fix all of that during edits. That’s also another factor that goes into choosing my own word count. I like to choose a middling number, just in case I need the wiggle room. I have space to brutally cut out all of the nonsense if I need to, but I also have room to fix anything that’s not fleshy enough.

What I mean to say is that word counts are great tools, but don’t let them freak you out. Let them help you establish a more concrete timeline for finishing your work, but don’t let them rule your work. Keep it simple and fun, or it’s not worth doing. At least that’s how I feel about it. What are your thoughts on word count?

Inspiration! Does It Strike You?

June 10, 2015June 9, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Welcome! Another question today. My Minion (Joel Rede) asked me “What inspires you?” Well, is “everything” an acceptable answer? At least that’s the immediate answer that usually pops into my head. However, the more I think about it, the more I go off on a tangent. More often than not, I’m inspired by a multitude of things all playing off of each other, but sometimes I’m not feeling inspired at all. So, while I’m going to talk about sources of inspiration for me, I’m also going to address what I do when nothing is striking me.

I’m easily inspired (it’s awesome, but it’s also a curse because I have SO MANY unwritten or forgotten stories). I’d say that music has the biggest impact on my writing topics. Sometimes, it’s a whole song that catches my attention. A lot of the time, it’s a single line or even just a word that piques my curiosity. I’ve written a screenplay based on a song, and I’ve written short stories that were inspired by a verse or less. The mood of whatever music I listen to also has its fair share of influence on my writing. It’s just one of those things.

Another source of inspiration is people. I’m a people watcher. If I’m obviously staring at you, chances are that you’re not even on my radar, but that guy arguing with a tree (or someone hidden by the tree) behind you definitely has my attention. C’mon. Who doesn’t want to know why the guy is yelling at the tree nymph? Scenes like that, ones that probably have a completely reasonable explanation, are the best things ever! Combine them with snippets of overheard conversations, and you’re golden. It’s especially amusing if you’re somewhere like an anime convention where you have a lumberjack-looking guy dressed as Sailor Moon flirting with a furry. I couldn’t make this stuff up.

cosplay-family-guy-sailor-moon-costume_jpg-demotivational-poster — There are, not they are. Yes, I correct grammar on the Interwebz.

The world is full of inspiration if you’re open to it, but what about the days it fails you? I write anyway. I’m not a believer in writing only when inspiration strikes, because frankly (and I’ve said this before), the muse is a fickle bitch. If you wait for her, you’ll never get anything done. Yeah, you might get 5000 words written one day, but then you’ll hit a month long dry spell. What’s the good in that? On the other hand, I don’t advocate writing every single day, so if you’re consistently inspired five days out of the week, go ahead and take those other two days off guilt free.

If you’re like me, and some days the words just won’t come, write them anyway. It usually happens when I’m between big projects or I’ve hit a spot that I haven’t quite decided how to work my way through. On those days, I free write. I let my mind go blank, then write whatever pops into it. A lot of the time, I just end up writing a three page rant about why writing/certain characters/plotting/whatever sucks. Sometimes, a sentence will pop into my head and lead to a three page description of a new story or novel. So, even free writing can lead to inspiration!

Hand with Reflecting Sphere — M. C. Escher

In other words, whether you find inspiration in music or people or art (another big one for me) or in nothing at all, keep creating. Maybe one day, you’ll be the one inspiring people. Maybe you already are and just don’t know it. Keep it up!

No School! The Feels…

June 3, 2015June 2, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello there! I think I’ll address another question/comment today. Remember, feel free to send me questions or comments or whatever here or at Facebook or Twitter. This one is from Dallas Funk. She recently brought it to my attention that we aren’t preparing for a new semester, we aren’t panicking to finish up our last packets, and we aren’t getting ready to travel halfway across the country for ten days of writerly business and fun. How does that make me feel? Well…

Actually, that’s only kind of right. Sure, I’m sad, but I’m also a little excited and relieved and not as stressed (though I fully admit to facing new kinds of stress). I mean, right about now is usually when I’d be starting to prepare for the residency and worrying over the drive that isn’t for another month (irrational fears FTW!) and all that. Instead, I started writing a new novel this month while I wait for feedback on the other one. I had been working on a collection of short stories, which was becoming tedious, so I switched projects. The fact that I’m not working towards a thesis, and that I didn’t have to check with anyone first, made it much easier to convince myself that this kind of shift is okay. The freedom, man! The freedom!

I will definitely miss everyone, but this is what happens as we grow. We lose touch with some and make new connections with others. Also, I’d normally have a social buffer right around this time to make the transition easier. A weekend out among other similar minded freaks (granted, these are anime lovers, not writers, but still). Also known as A-Kon weekend. But I’ve chosen to skip it this year (that was a dumbass move on my part). I think that has me more sad than anything. I knew school was a limited time thing going in, but this is the first time in thirteen years that I’ve skipped A-Kon.

472 — The Minion and I almost ready for the masquerade ball last year.

Don’t get me wrong, it is time for a break from A-Kon, but I kind of regret doing it the same year I finished school. However, I am trying to stay a little social by going to readings and stuff. Yeah… I guess that’s really the biggest “sad” part about not prepping for a new semester. It’s just the lack of socializing that’s got me a little down. That’s actually a pretty terrifying revelation for someone who never really cared about having a social life. Gee thanks, Stonecoast!

I guess what all this boils down to is that I’m having feels about the situation, but none of them are really standing out. Actually, I posted a Facebook status a few days ago that said “It feels weird to not be prepping for A-Kon or a new semester. I shouldn’t have stopped both in the same year. Sad Cyn is sad. In other news, I decided to start a new novel tomorrow. It’s a standalone. Much more post-apocalypse (but not really) sci-fi than I’m used to writing. I’m kind of excited.” That was when a friend’s mom asked if I was bipolar (jokingly, of course) and I replied with “It’s a writer’s life! Conflicting emotions are the norm.” So, that there’s the short version of everything I just said.

A writer’s life… So many feels, bro. So many feels.

A Look Inside Big Shucks Oyster Bar

May 27, 2015May 26, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ 2 Comments

Hello again! I haven’t done a food review in a while, so here you go. Yes, it’s another seafood place (I’ll think of something different for next month). Big Shucks is a place we’ve been to a fair amount and we always have a good experience food-wise. Here’s a reminder of the rating system:

1610868_851485004894763_854183972455716638_n — Borrowed from their Facebook.

Normally, we go to Big Shucks in Dallas, but this last time we went to the one in Richardson. Locations can be found at their website, linked above.

Let’s start off with accessibility as usual. The very first time we were going to try this place, we actually wanted to go to Aw Shucks (they’re sister store) in Dallas. At the time, Aw Shucks was inaccessible (they may have upgraded by now, but I have no idea), so they sent us a couple of blocks over to Big Shucks after explaining that it was the same thing, only accessible. Since, we’ve been multiple times, plus twice that I remember to the Richardson location. The tables at the Dallas store are a mish mash, so some are perfect and some are knee bangers. The Richardson tables aren’t as eclectic, and they’re pretty nice height-wise with legs that don’t get in the way. Both locations have outdoor seating as well. I didn’t check out Richardson’s patio, but Dallas’s has picnic style tables. The ends are usually long enough for me to get under them, so it’s pretty nice.

A brief mention of service. It’s basically self serve. You go to the counter and give your order, sometimes they bring it to you and sometimes they just call your name and you go to the pick up area, then you go back and forth if you need things.

Onto the food! We always get oysters as a start. They also have shrimp cocktails and ceviche, which are delicious.

Oysters at Big Shucks — Yup, I ate half of them. Be jealous.

It’s one of those places where the food comes out as it’s ready, but I’ve never felt rushed. Their pacing is pretty nice. So, we were able to savor the yummy oysters before our entrees arrived. Now, I admit Big Shucks has a fairly limited selection, but what they do have, they do well. I almost always get the scallops. They’re grilled with a little seasoning. No fuss, no muss. None of this fancy bacon-wrapped special sauce crap. You get pure scallop goodness. Dad usually rotates through a few selections, but this time he got the salmon. Again, there’s nothing fancy to it. Just lovely, cooked to perfection fish. That’s the great thing about this place. You get to taste the seafood instead of a bunch of sauce and toppings.

028 — Dad’s Salmon and veggies, and my scallops with rice and veggies.

Dessert… It’s less than spectacular. All they have is “homemade” key lime pie that is almost certainly from a box. It’s not bad, it’s just not great. Luckily, Dallas’s Big Shucks is just down the street from TCBY and a few streets over from Pinkberry, so if key lime pie doesn’t blow your skirt up, you can go get yogurt!

That brings us to the price. It’s actually really reasonable considering it’s seafood in North Texas. Also, remember that they use the honor system. It’s your job to keep track of what you ordered. So, I suggest bringing a pen and paper if you order a lot.

Overall Rating:
MMMM

Back to answering questions next week! See you then!

Is Reading Actually Work?

May 20, 2015May 19, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Hello, hello! I recently asked people on my personal Facebook account for advice on what to ramble about on here, whether they had questions for me, etc. So far, I’ve received four ideas, which I will address in this and future posts. But first, I wanted to invite anyone who reads this to send me suggestions or questions or just random comments! You can do it here on the blog or Facebook or Twitter or whatever.

Q_by_heise — You have questions, yes? Art by Heise (Lian Yan Fang)

The topic I’m going to address today comes from my dad. Yesterday, I spent a good chunk of my time reading instead of writing, and he randomly asked me if reading was part of my work. I had to pause, and formulate a satisfactory answer. He just wanted a yes or no. Unfortunately, I had to re-convince myself. It’s something I’ve thought of before and I consistently arrive at the same conclusion, but I always feel kind of weird saying yes, simply because I enjoy reading. No one actually enjoys “work,” right? So, how can reading be work? It is. I think.

The more I think about jobs, the more I realize that they’re constantly changing, and people have to study to keep on top of it all. It’s not far-fetched for companies to keep an eye on the competition (also known as other companies). Well, in the writing field, your “competition” is other writers! What better way to keep track of what everyone else is doing than by reading their stuff? At least that’s how I rationalize reading current authors. It’s studying! It’s not my fault that my studying involves zombies and werewolves and fun stuff like that.

And anime/manga. I get to study that too.

Actually, studying applies to basically all of my reading. When I read the classics, I’m studying form or the craft or whatever you want to call it. That pretty much goes along with any author, current or past. I blame Stonecoast. I used to read just for fun, but once I had to focus on certain aspects (characterization, pace, diction, the list goes on), it took over my entire reading life. I can no longer open a book without noticing parts of the craft that the author excels at (or fails miserably at). In that way, reading definitely gets tedious if I don’t enjoy the story enough to override all of that. Those books are most certainly work, but I can’t forget that I get something from every book. I learn things. That sounds like good work to me.

One last reason that reading is work for a writer is actually the most obvious. Writing often requires knowledge outside of the author’s wheel house. This means they have to study those things, and if they can’t do so with a more hands on approach, they have to read about them. For example, I write about serial killers every so often. One way I prep for such stories is to brush up on psychology. Granted, I studied the field in undergrad, but terms are always changing and I know very little compared to people who spent years studying it. I do this because I get irked by authors who obviously have no idea what they’re talking about. So, if you’re writing about something and only have a vague idea how it works, please go read up on it. Google makes this fairly easy.

quote-Lawrence-Kasdan-being-a-writer-is-like-having-homework-21729 — It’s not wrong.

So, what does all of this mean? Basically, there’s more to writing than just the words you put on the page. It requires studying, which means it requires reading. It’s all part of a writer’s job. At least that’s my take on it. What do you think?

Moving Forward and Looking Back

May 13, 2015May 12, 2015 ~ shawnaborman ~ Leave a comment

Howdy, again! It’s May 12th, as I’m writing this. According to Facebook’s “On This Day” thing, I graduated from Southern Methodist University exactly three years ago. I never really put much thought into this supposedly momentous occasion. I had my issues with SMU (some of which I will probably complain about here), but it was always just a necessary stepping stone to me. It wasn’t a big deal for me or anything. It’s funny how time changes your perspective on things like this.

027 — The obligatory fountain picture, again.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that SMU held a lot of firsts for me. It was my first major unpleasant experience with lack of accessibility issues. It’s a major university with millions and billions of dollars being sunk into its sports programs and stadiums, so of course I assumed it would be entirely accessible. But you know what they say about people who assume things! Yeah, I learned my lesson. (Major eye-twitch inducing moment for me.)

It was the first place where some of the classes actually challenged me. That was an impressive experience. My first C+ on a test, however, was not as impressive. And yeah, I know that sounds cocky, but it’s true. School was always a place where I excelled. The real world, not so much.

It was also the first place where my graduation day was uneventful (like no broken bones and no family squabbles). Yeah, I had serious bad luck with my previous two graduations. I really didn’t want to go through another, but I did, and it wasn’t bad.

002 — Dallas Hall… I could get in the basement, but couldn’t fit in the elevator. Good job, SMU! Also, the date is wrong. This was some time in April of 2012.

Anyway, it’s three years later, and I’m still in touch with a number of the faculty (I fully admit SMU had an awesome faculty and staff, despite my other issues with it). I didn’t come away with many friends (one who I keep in regular touch with, and two I fall in and out of touch with every now and then), but I wasn’t looking to make friends at that point, so I’m okay with that. For someone who was in “get in, get degree, get out” mode, I’m impressed by the connections I did manage to make.

Now, I’ve got a Master’s degree, which I wouldn’t have gotten without my SMU adviser’s advice, and letters of recommendation from others at SMU. I’ve made a number of connections during my time in my Master’s program, some of which actually tie in with my SMU connections. I’m in the process of cleaning up a novel that started as a short story in one of my SMU fiction classes. I learned very quickly what kind of critiques to take to heart, and which to brush off thanks to my writing classes at SMU, which made my time at Stonecoast that much easier. So yeah, I guess SMU was more than a stepping stone after all.

034 — SMU Mustangs. Pretty sure this was the day or so before graduation.

Why am I rambling on about all of this? Honestly, because I couldn’t think of anything productive to write about. But sometimes it’s good to take a look back, especially at things you took for granted. It often gives you a new perspective to move forward with. And moving forward is all we can really do, right?

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.

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!

Shawna's Blog of Doom

Maybe just randomness