To develop a character I usually visualize that character in my mind and then I create a name. After a few days or so when I have a idea of what the character will look like I will surf the internet for images.
First Draft in 30 Days by Karen S. Wiesner available at Amazon.com or a local bookstore is well worth the investment. I have read this book and I currently use it as a reference.
I am bad at grammar and spelling and I have a limited vocabulary. So why do I want to write? I am not particularly gifted at writing. I am gifted with an overactive imagination. It is because of my imagination that I like to write. I can easily create stories in my mind. Transferring those stories to writing is difficult. Editing my writing to improve grammar, spelling, and vocabulary is even more difficult.
I want to experiment with the idea of writing a ghost story without a ghost. I previously wrote a flash fiction story titled, “The Ghost Beyond the Attic Door,” which deals with the overactive imagination of an eight year-old boy. That story neither confirms nor denies the existence of a real ghost in the story, just that the boy believes there is a ghost.
Since the dawn of the Internet with millions of people taking advantage of the freedom to broadcast their writings online, it is true that originality is lacking.
February 19, 2009 – 16:57
There is an article on Writer’s Digest.com by Karen S. Wiesner titled, “Your Novel Blueprint.” In this article she discusses the Story Plan Checklist. She reports that planning is story is similar to the process of planning to build a house. I believe her analogy is correct and her article is a great help.
February 18, 2009 – 08:12
About two years ago I decided to start a hobby I had not participated in for many years. That hobby was writing. There are two things that inspired me do so. My recent post about a daydream which resulted in me writing a short called A Nation Below is the first one. The second is the inspirational blog Zen Habits by Leo Babauta.
February 16, 2009 – 15:08
The situation got my mind to working. I was a member of the I.T. Department for this company and the President had a new project that he would assign to me. I had a daydream about a guy like myself who works in an I.T. Department getting an assignment from the President of the company.
February 11, 2009 – 08:57
I will be the first to admit that I daydream a lot. Daydreaming is entertaining. Daydreams are escape from reality like movies and books. Daydreaming is also my way of dealing with stress and uncomfortable situations.
For example I used to have a job where I had to drive a lot. And no daydreaming was not [...]