Writer's Block

Posted to the group:

One of the areas of fiction writing that really bogs me down is choosing the names of the characters. If I don't resonate with a name, then I can't move any further. The problem seems to be that I originally choose a name that I later decide is not marketable. I need to change it. For instance, I may refer to my character as Mickey Mouse. That name may fit him well, but then I think, "I can't use that name because it is trademarked."

When I realize that I've chosen a name for a character that is also the name of a friend, I cringe when that character goes off into an area of the plot that would upset my friend. So I change the name, and the character usually doesn't survive the surgery.

One of the reasons I ditched my online novel is because I could not write about "Oaneta" anymore. That was a "safe" name. I made it up. Where did I get it? It is derived from Pamela typed with my fingers on the wrong keys. LOL

Does anyone know of a reference work that has researched the connotation that names bring to the average reader? I use baby names books all the time for meanings.

A Google search brought up this site: http://www.kabalarians.com/ . The Kabalarian philosophy is that your name creates your mind.

For example, I typed in "Pamela" (well, first I typed in Oaneta, not in database, well duh... LOL). This is what came up for Pamela:

"Brief Analysis

"Your first name of Pamela has made you happiest when you are expressing in some creative, artistic way, and not conforming to strict routine. In a large group of comparative strangers, you are quiet and rather shy, unable to express yourself, not really wanting to become involved in conversation. On the other hand, among friends with whom you feel at ease, you are expressive, witty, and quite charming. These contrasting natures make it difficult for people to understand you and can lead to friction in your personal life. You are deep, philosophical, and refined, but your extremely sensitive nature causes you to become depressed and self-pitying over any real or imagined slight. If you are not careful, people take advantage of your generous nature. You find the beauties of nature, fine music, art, and literature--all the deeper things of life--inspiring. The reserved, sensitive side of your nature brings aloneness and friction into your life, although you crave affection and understanding."

Some of the paragraph is a bit lofty, but I can't disagree with anything in it.

What's in a name? Would a 'Pamela' by any other name be as sweet?

Oaneta
(ROFL, I really typed that first without thinking)
author, writer, poet, alter-ego of Pamela

Posted to the group:

In regard to stream-of-consciousness writing, please do not change because of anything someone says on a list, especially this list.

One of the reasons I started this list now --instead of waiting until Alaskan Literature list grew to a size that needed splitting into two groups-- is so that I wouldn't have to worry whether or not my posts would appeal to the average reader.

The reason this list appeals to me is because I feel a kindred spirit with people who have the same compulsion to write as I do.

Something I want to make clear about my praise to any individual writer (just in case it was one of my comments that sparked your reluctance to post stream-of-consciousness writing): When I praised [somebody's] writing, I wasn't asserting that any other writer I've read here is hard to read. I praised [her] writing because I connected with it. I wanted her to know that.

We all know how thankless writing can be, and when I'm touched by something, I intend to mention it. (I may not _always_ mention it because sometimes I have a dozen round-2-its on backorder, and I don't have time to be on the computer.)

If anyone here wants to write a rambling 10-page post, then do it. That's what this list is for. We are here to mingle as writers and to hone our craft.

Some topics hook me more than others. Just because a topic doesn't hook everyone on the list is not a reason not to write it. (Is it allowable to have two "nots" in one sentence? LOL)

I prefer short posts because I have way more to do online than I have time to do it. OTOH, you may have noticed that I'm not renown for my brevity. ;)

So write on, write on, create "from the very gut of your heart and soul." &qtuo;Our purpose is to follow that creative urge wherever it leads."

"Some one had blunder'd.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to [write] and die."

My apologies to Alfred Lloyd Tennyson. ;)
http://www.ram.org/contrib/the_charge_of_the_light_brigade.html
http://www.online-literature.com/tennyson/

p.s. for everyone who made it to the end of this post, belly up to the bar.  Sasparilla for everyone! :)

Sometimes my perfection will push me into paralysis.  If I can't write perfectly, then I can't write.  Is it hubris of me to call myself a writer?  On the other hand, I feel a push to write.  I cannot "not" write.

I had an ephipany that settles the question for me.  Since, I have the compulsion to write, I am a writer.  Confidence is irrelevant (now).

While surfing the web, I came across a web designer's site.  She had blogs illustrated with photos (like I keep planning to do), and her site was so polished and professional looking.  For a while I felt like, "What's the use?"  I'm never going to get my site looking like I want.

I have written down my love story.  Now I need to prune it, take out all the unnecessary characters and subplots.

One of my favorite books is Hawaii by James Michener.  I like how he developed the generations of people in it, although it was confusing at times. Several love stories developed in his book.  I think I had that type of story in the back of my mind as I wrote.  I just kept typing until I ran out of ideas to type.  I've thought that I could get two, three, maybe four books out of all the writing I did.

As long as I don't depend on my writing to support me, I tend to dance to my own music. So, I don't write for universal appeal, and I don't worry about polish while I'm writing. OTOH, I think the lack of deadlines tends to keep me from finishing anything.

One of the group members asked, "Are you snowed under?"

I'm snowed under all right, but not by the weather.  I have more projects on the back burner than I have stoves to heat them.

On days that I have my grandson here, there's no computer for me.  He was here all day Saturday, most of Sunday, all day today, and tomorrow morning and early afternoon.  I'd rather play with him any day than play with a computer.

Jody Pryor calls herself "Alaska's Literary Novelist for the beer and pretzel crowd"  I wish I could think of a catchy phrase to describe myself.

I can't think of anything catchy to call myself. If I type that I'm a writer, author, poet enough times, maybe I can make it so.

Who would I like to be like? I think I'd like to be like Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry. I don't know if I have the discipline to write a regular column the way she did and he still does.

I enjoy reading books that are relevant to me. If I don't connect with it, then I can't make myself read it. I remember about 10 years ago someone told me to read, I'm Okay, You're Okay.  I never found a book that put me to sleep faster. I usually enjoy reading self-help type books. I liked The Road Less Traveled by Peck.

I would like to write a love story, but I don't think it would qualify as a romance novel.

I understand the problem of finding an audience for your book. That's one reason I started writing on the Internet. My goal is to find an audience who already enjoyed my writing. Then if I ever finished a book, I'd have a ready-made audience. I don't think anything I would write would have universal appeal; so, I don't see myself doing a book tour to promote anything that I'd write. One step at a time.

For those of you writing a book about Alaska, there is a market for these works in gift shops all over the state. I don't know how many books that would be, but it would be a start.

While doing research on Google, a hit took me to a post on a private Yahoo group. Since I was not a member of the group, I couldn't access it.

However, I went back to Google and clicked on the "Cached" link, and there it was, the whole post. I was taken aback because I believed that a private group was not indexed. But there I was reading the archived version of a post from a private Yahoo group.

So, posts that we send to our private groups 'may' be accessible at some point in the future. I wanted to alert everyone to this possibility before you send anything in a message that you wouldn't want known on the Net.

Posted to the group "...feelings are a lot easier to take when you can put them into words and know that someone will hear."

We have a couple of new Yahoo groups related to writing. Jody created the Alaskan Literature group to discuss books written about Alaska or set in Alaska, fiction or nonfiction.

We could see right away that we would be talking about the mechanics of writing; so, I created the Alaskan Writers group.  Both of these lists have a small group of members and the number of messages per month is small.

A group of writers who live in Alaska have gathered together to discuss the art and process of writing.

If you are a writer who lives in Alaska, you are invited to join our discussion about writing techniques, how to overcome writer's block, how to get published, networking with other writers, seminars and workshops, tips, and pointers about the solitary occupation of writing.

Readers of the Alaskan Literature group are invited to add input and feedback from their viewpoint.

I have lots of characters in my book. I think these characters can be used somewhere, sometime. The temptation to use them all in one book is still great, though. My novice is showing.

What I do have is an ending I really like. To get to this ending, I have two characters who interact, who make the story. So far so good. Now I have another premise that I had originally started with for one of the characters. This is where it gets all balled up in my mind.

Let's see (taking inventory), I have the ugly, I have the bad, now all I need is the good. ;)

Today was my first post to our new Alaskan Writers group.

A person who writes for a living! Wow! That's my dream job.

Last week I went to Sam's Club for groceries, but I can never keep myself from the book aisle. I bought the book Idiot's Guide to Creative Writing. I've been absorbed reading it every since.

However, having real live authors to guide and support your writing is a great resource. Writers need support, too. So, the purpose of this group is to provide both.

Don't just sit there reading. This group is about writing.  So write!

Posted to the group:

According to Laurie E. Rozakis, PhD., "If you write, you're a writer. It's as simple as that." However, if some members don't feel comfortable describing themselves as a writer, then use the description that fits best for you, avid reader, critic, mystery lover, romance-novel addict, etc.

Posted to the group:

One reason I hesitated to post my thoughts in the Alaskan Literature list is because of "those pesky characters." I was sure I would have to watch my back for those men in white coats.

I try to ignore the characters, but they want to be heard. When I first found the Internet and chat rooms, I got the idea to let my characters have it out in a chat room. I was excited and driven until the conversation ran out of steam. From that exercise, I hoped to carve out a novel. Up to this point, I haven't. The problem? Too many characters. LOL

Occasionally, I write vignettes where a character talks to another. Even as I write this post, they all jockey for top position. "Tell my story." "No, tell mine."

So, how do you make some sense out of the chaos?