What Comes Next...

So now with my 50,000 words of fantasy out of the way (though there is a great chance I'll be writing more after and possibly even during this trip), I have officially decided on the next genre I want to write:

Steampunk.

That's right. Get all the comments out now, please, because I promise you I've already thought about it at great length. I love reading fantasy, but am only mediocre at writing it, however I also am a little bit fond of science fiction, and from what I've been told from the very few sci-fi things I've written that it's better than my fantasy. Therefore, I began my search to incorporate both of these elements and happened upon the steampunk genre. I had never actually read any of it, but had heard of and knew a little bit about the genre.

Winn3r

Oh my god, people. I’m a little delayed on the announcement; but I won Nanowrimo! For the first time! I hit 50,000 words around 1:15 this morning. It was a crazy adventure trying to finish so early, but I did it. There were several points where I almost quit (again) but the wonderful wrimos (people that do Nanowrimo, if you didn’t know) here in Alabama pushed me through. I’m very grateful for their encouragement and look forward to spending more time writing with them. One of them even said they’d bake a cake if I hit 50k! My fingers and wrists kind of hurt now, but that’s alright. It was totally worth it.
 

You see, I’m going on a trip for the next week so family will probably prevent me from getting away to write a ton. So that leaves me to have to have won before I left. It’s all good now, though, because now I’m a Winn3r! (Somebody tell me they caught the play on my name there...)

ASSIMILATE! ASSIMILATE! ASSIMILATE!

People—especially Christians, I'm noticing—seem to have no concept outside of what they believe. Everything else is a lie, and the suggestion of something different shatters their world. It occurred to me recently that people have the hardest time with suggestions that a.) they aren't used to, b.) they don't suggest themselves, or c.) can't think of an answer or better suggestion for.

I’ve been told (and just noticed as well) people believe that without the religion or whatever else that people have, others can't make a difference in the world. This doesn't quite make sense to me. You can't make a difference without X beliefs or X faith? Right... That's why Steve jobs left the imprint of a billion dollar company that’s a core part of an enormous part of the world's population's lives. You could say the same for many others, like Nikola Tesla for example; or Albert Einstein; or Julius Caesar. Even look at someone like H.P. Lovecraft—probably the greatest inspiration to the horror fiction genre. There are plenty of others, most of which are known even by the most uneducated. You say they didn't make a difference or do something valuable with their lives because they don't believe in X? I’m not so sure...

A Learning Experience

So, lately I've been thinking. About what I'm writing. A lot, actually, with Nano coming up and all. Now of course, I already have a story with a world and a map and everything all ready. It's other ideas popping into my head. It's funny, because a lot of the people I know that write have the issue of little to no ideas. My issue? I've got so many ideas I can't keep up with them, and so I get bored when I start writing one.
 

When I get bored writing something, I pass it over and it ceases to exist until I discover it again, usually some years later. It's sad, because some of my good ideas got passed over like that. I hope one day I'll be able to look back and say that I used all of those ideas. Wouldn't it be nice to look back and see you haven't wasted ideas? Or time? Or relationships?
 

Think about that--wasted relationships. How many friends have you had or acquaintances have you met that have been nothing more than civil niceties and small talk? Or that were deeper friendships, maybe even romantic relationships that didn't quite amount to much?
 

Make something out of every moment. Don't waste a day. Don't let your relationships with people be pointless. If nothing else, make them a learning experience. Make your relationships meaningful!

Here Comes November

Currently, there are tons of writers (and non-writers, actually) preparing themselves for the month to come: November. But for a writer, the month of November is a little more than just the month of Thanksgiving. (Though it is that too. Boy, do I love some turkey...) November is National Novel Writing Month, or Nanowrimo. That's right, writing a novel in a month. It's crazy, but, in my opinion, one of the greatest events of all time; inspiring writers to let their words flow and to put their ideas to the page. Where the goal is quantity and not quality. Where creativity and imagination come first and editing and rewriting come second. I will be participating, and I encourage you all to do the same!

Want to learn specifics? Well, head right on over to the Nanowrimo page and see for yourself what's going on during November.

Hoping to see you all write with me soon,
Dream3r