Yeah Write #2

Now that introductions and setups are out of the way thanks to that last article, I think we should just jump right in with this. What better time is there to writing a novel than in November? Which, for the uninitiated, is also known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo if you’re down with the hip, young lingo. Anyway, the goal of NaNo is to write a novel in thirty days. Specifically a novel of at least fifty thousand words. Which seems daunting, but when you break it down that’s only roughly 1,667 words a day. Which shouldn’t take most writers more than an hour, maybe two if you’re researching a lot.

Keep in mind the idea is to not have a written and fully edited novel ready to publish at the end of the month. Honestly the less proofreading the better, because as a follow up to NaNo they suggest finishing the rough draft and not touching it again until January or February, so you can come at it with a fresh set of eyes and really be able to analyze your work from a slightly less bias stand point.

For example, that fight scene with the robot, monkey pirates was pretty sweet, but did I really need this is my historical romance novel? The answer’s yes. Either way, it’s these kinds of questions you should be asking yourself. Aside from being able to spot glaring grammatical issues you missed, because your mind naturally autocorrects to what you expect to see. This is a common practice I have with my Fanfictions, I write a lot of chapters weeks, months, and for a while years before they get published. This way I can edit them with fresh eyes. This is a good practice for writers to get into. Sure it’s no substitute for a professional editor, but it’s good for young startups.

The biggest benefit is obviously that you’re not going to get stuck in the rut of constantly proofreading and rewriting. Take it from someone’s who written several stories that will never see the light of day. Ideas change. Plans change. You’ll realize things suck. It happens, nothing is wasted if you learned from it. One perfect example of this in my mind is one of my own fanfictions. Shameless plug. Pokemon Sagas: Shadow Destiny. It was originally around seventeen chapters and forty-one thousand words before I started publishing chapters. I scrapped every last bit of it. The current rewrite is fourteen chapters in at the time of writing this and over fifty thousand words.

Another example, my current novel for NaNoWriMo, “The Orphic Seal”. It was originally a dark and gritty fantasy series. Now it’s a wacky and light hearted fantasy story suitable for all ages. Core tenants haven’t changed, like how magic works, but the main character is almost night and day compared their original counterparts. I will, of course, be discussing more about that another time.

Our works age with us. We grow more experienced. Being a perfectionist and a writer is impossible, because you’ll always find new and inventive ways to tell a story. You’ll constantly improve the more you practice and at the end of the day harping over a story is not worth it. Just keep on writing. Tell the best stories you can. Turn off your inner critic and just write. 

My blog: http://kingogreen.blogspot.com/

My Tumblr: http://kingogreen.tumblr.com/

My Fanfiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10065888/1/Pokemon-Sagas-Tia-s-Tales

Yeah Write #1

So I might be talking out my ass here, but I think this is how you write a good story. So I know what you’re thinking. Did this asshole just discredit himself in the very first sentence and further reinforce this with a self-deprecating question?

Yes! As a pseudo-semi-somewhat-not-really-amateur-professional-writer who has only published Pokemon fanfictions. I know quite a bit about crafting a good tale. Which is good, for I have a unique approach that I think works and I am happy to share my thoughts with all of you. While injecting my own brand of humor.

Writing has been a passion of mine for quite a long time and I want to let people know what my opinion on story telling is. Am I an authority? No. Do I have the credentials to teach writing as a course? Hell no. What I do have is a set of skills. Skills that brought me to where I am today. I’m not here to teach or lecture. I am here to write and hopefully inspire at least one other who is a writer.

How is this inspiring? Well look around. You’re currently nose deep in words I wrote. Unless you’re skimming the article in hopes that there’s a dislike button at the bottom or comment option to tell me how much I suck. Back to the point, what I have done is something many writers can agree is probably the hardest step in the writing process. Actually sitting down and writing. Sure, this is not always the case, but we all know that feeling. The urge to write versus the lack of proper motivation or that nasty mistress procrastination.

To me writers exist in many forms. The guy who writes four thousands a day. He’s a writer; he’s also not me. The girl who many have notebooks filled with ideas for stories, but hasn’t actually written them into the novel they’re just waiting to be. Fanfiction writers. People scribbling down ideas on Post-it notes. Even that dude in Starbucks sitting around on his MacBook writing his shitty screenplay to impress women. Unless, he’s just pretending to write a shitty screenplay to impress women. In which case. Come on bro, seriously?

What I am saying is I’m not here to give some ground breaking perspective on how writing is done. I am a guy who loves to write and challenged himself to write what he thinks and post it for world to ridicule, I mean see. Probably ridicule. Still, I am doing what a great many other writers haven’t. I’ve set aside my fears and worries to post this. Not because I expect to become famous or for the glory. I did it for all the writers out there who maybe are afraid to tell their story. After reading thus far do I really seem like the kind of guy who’s going to give two shits if people don’t like this article? No.

The plain and simple truth is, I’m doing this for myself and anyone else like me. I want this to reach people the way articles like these haven’t before. Are you afraid of failure? Of course, we all are! No one gets success the first time. Even those with god given abilities have to face struggles. The point is to not give up. Write your terrible Fifty Shades of Grey fanfiction. Write your shitty screenplay. Indulge yourself in the most Mary Sue of characters. Because you know what? You’re doing what so many other writers aren’t. Taking time to write. Plus, you then learn from your mistakes.

I say all that not knowing anyone who is reading this or their work. For all I know the next Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, or William Shakespeare could be reading this. Still, what did all these people have in common? The worked hard, wrote, got panned, and continued to grow their skills. Something I am doing. Something I hope you all are doing, and something I want to be able to say I helped someone else do.

I thank each and every one of you for reading this article. I welcome all constructive criticism. Did you love it? Did you hate it? Would you not even wipe your ass with this article? Tell me what you thought I did right or wrong. Every comment helps. 

Shameless Plugs: 

My blog: http://kingogreen.blogspot.com/

My Tumblr: http://kingogreen.tumblr.com/

My Fanfiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10065888/1/Pokemon-Sagas-Tia-s-Tales

Hello Internet!

Hello all, this is the first post of what will hopefully, and ideally, be the first step on a grand adventure in blogging. So you're probably asking yourself right now, who is this blowhard? I go by many names, but you can call me KingOGreen or Alex, simply. I'm a writer at heart and for a very long have wanted to do a blog, with little success. Agonizing over what I could possibly write or if my skills are any good run deep. Though I'm sure many like minded individuals can agree.

Long story short, this is a new world for me and I plan to fully commit to it. Though both Blogger and Tumblr to maximize my wide reach as well as provide exclusive content on both. Incentive to check up on both regularly. Though my schedule will hardly be regular in the beginning. You see, as anyone could tell you, writing takes time. Lots of time depending on the work. Rome wasn't built in a day. Michelangelo didn't simply hit a marble slab and out came the David. I wont to cover a wide range of things from my thoughts on what writing a good story are, reviews on various subject matters. As well as showing a bit of my creative process with my fanfiction.

Which leads to my next topic, yes, on top of being an aspiring author, I write Pokemon fanfictions on the side. It is a franchise I love and I wanted to craft it's own unique world with my own influences. I would greatly appreciate anyone interested in checking out/ripping it apart. This is a series I do take seriously and constantly update it. Bi-weekly, Wednesdays

Pokemon Sagas: Tia's Tales - https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10065888/1/Pokemon-Sagas-Tia-s-Tales 

I'm also not some guy who spouts off random words of inspiration as if I'm some grand philosopher. The only experienced advice I could give in from my own life experiences and even then I'd never claim to have all the answers. So I like being very grounded and down to earth, while still having a strong grasp of psychology.

I'll will leave you with this, writing is hard to get started, but once that momentum kicks in your in for an exciting ride. I do truly hope this is a start to something amazing. Until then, I'll be here chasing that goal. To aspiring authors out there like me. Please, don't be afraid to show us your world. I sincerely would love any and all comments from any of you.

Blogger - kingogreen.blogspot.com
Tumblr - http://kingogreen.tumblr.com/