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About
- Stephanie is a twenty-something from the East Coast now living in the Midwest. She is interested in a variety of genres and media, striving always to write soli Deo gloria.
Currently, she is working on her first full-length novel, a coming-of-age story set during the months before and after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
When not writing, Stephanie may often be found reading, watching movies, or traveling on road trips. You might also find her singing oldies karaoke or frolicking in the woods, though she doesn't get to do that as often as she likes.
To learn more about Stephanie and to keep up with her writing, please follow her blog and tweets.
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- First Prize — Valentine's Day 2009 Six-Word Love Story Contest sponsored by The Moravian Book Shop (the oldest continuously operating book shop in the world, founded in 1745)
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Posts
- May 19, 12
What makes a good title?
I've read about this in numerous books, blogs, and articles. But, just like every aspect of good writing, I don't think there's any secret formula. There can be trends, tips, and personal trademarks. But, in the end, maybe it all comes down to Providence.
This morning, I was thinking about my WIP (surprise, surprise), and my thoughts centered on a word. I LOVE having not one but TWO (print) copies of the Oxford English Dictionary in the house. Words are so exciting. Opening up the OED is always a rich and enlightening experience.
That being said, I leave you with but one more thought. Did you know that "autumn" could be used as a verb? ;) - Mar 15, 12
I am indebted to AdviceToWriters.com.
I love quotes. I've been collecting them a long time. In fact, I started my own tumblr project just for them. (There's a link over there to your right.) Ever since I was a girl reading American Girl books and learned about commonplace books from Felicity (please tell me some of you know what I'm talking about?!), I was fascinated. A place to record all the clever turns of phrase and little bits of wisdom you come across? Brilliant! I have a very pretty book I started years ago in real life. But, when I saw just how groovy tumblr can be, I wanted to try my hand at it. A commonplace book made perfect sense.
But, I try to not let ALL of my quotes in the commonplace book be about writing. I suppose it would be excusable, considering I'm a writer, but there are lots of other amazing quotes out there as well. So, you'll find a large portion of writing or artistic quotes at A Commonplace Book, but it's not exclusively about that.
Today, however, I was catching up on my dose of encouragement from AdviceToWriters.com, and they've had some good stuff there lately. Now, I don't take every quote every writer says as gospel, because you can find enough good advice out there which directly contradicts other good advice, and in the end it is all just that—advice. I am not the first to realize this.
But, I'm glad I have realized it, because it makes me also realize that I am free to be me, which is, in fact, all I can be. As one of my favorite old folk songs reminds us, “Nobody else can walk [that lonesome valley] for you, you've got to walk it for yourself.”
That being said, I just had to share a few of the quotes that really spoke to me and where I am in my own journey as an author right now. So, I hope any of you fellow writers out there will enjoy as I did, or at least they will help you understand the story behind this blog a little bit more:“The writer learns to write, in the last resort, only by writing. He must get words onto paper even if he is dissatisfied with them. A young writer must cross many psychological barriers to acquire confidence in his capacity to produce good work—especially his first full-length book—and he cannot do this by staring at a piece of blank paper, searching for the perfect sentence.”— Paul Johnson“There is neither a proportional relationship, nor an inverse one, between a writer’s estimation of a work in progress and its actual quality. The feeling that the work is magnificent, and the feeling that it is abominable, are both mosquitoes to be repelled, ignored, or killed, but not indulged.”— Annie Dillard“We have to accept ourselves in order to write. Now none of us does that fully: few of us do it even halfway. Don’t wait for one hundred percent acceptance of yourself before you write, or even eight percent acceptance. Just write. The process of writing is an activity that teaches us about acceptance.”— Natalie GoldbergAnd, a parting quote that wasn't from the same source but which pretty much sums up the heart of this post:“Most good things have been said far too many times and just need to be lived.” — Shane Claiborne
- Mar 08, 12
In case you didn't already know, I'm kind of a quiz addict. I love learning more about the unique individual I call “me.” (Narcissism? I prefer, “self-awareness.”) And, I like to share the love.
So, you should know about Salary.com's Archetype Test. I've been seeing a lot of talk about this very old idea of “archetypes” lately, and this is a free quiz that actually rates you on twelve different types.
Not terribly surprisingly, my top archetype I seem to be living out is that of the “Creator.” I scored a whopping 100% match with it. A little more surprising was that my second highest archetype was the “Jester.” Of course, maybe it shouldn't have been such a shock, considering that Sheryl Crow's mantra of “all I wanna do is have some fun” was probably a little too influential on my psychological development as a child in the 1990's.
My results to this very cool “archetypes” quiz are here!
You may follow the link above in the second paragraph to find your personal breakdown. Let me know, are you a “Creator” or a “Jester” type, too? Or, are you something I'm much weaker in? My “Ruler” was only 25%.
(After you find out about yourself, you could always use this for your characters, too. I bet John Nagna would have “Explorer” near the top of his profile.) - Feb 10, 12
Well, believe it or not, I have been writing a lot lately! It's just been in my novel draft and not here in my blog.... My apologies, faithful readers.
But, you will be happy to know that as of this morning, I have composed over 53,000 words in this particular project. And, things are getting exciting, as I have reached the climactic scene of the first part of the novel! It has been both fun and challenging to write. Over in Part II, wherein, as I reported to you in my last post, I have been dabbling, the infamous day of December 7, 1941 is about to dawn. (I don't think I'm really giving away anything to you by telling you that Pearl Harbor happens in the course of the plot. This is 1941. If you didn't know it was coming, then maybe you need to brush up on your history.)
But, how do I write about one of the most tragic and incendiary days in American history when I wasn't even born?! I have asked my grandparents about their personal accounts of that day in the past, but I think I am going to take the time to ask them again, and pay a little more attention this time. I want to know as much as possible about how they really felt that day. After all, that would be a little bit of how my characters, who are actually a little bit older and therefore even more impacted by the war, would be feeling.
I know that I could probably find many accounts on the internet, and maybe I will look into some of them. But, getting to talk to someone face to face, who is comfortable with sharing their emotional memory with me, I think will be much more helpful as I try to absorb that emotion into my writing. And, really, I like any excuse to listen to my grandparents' talk about their lives. Or anything at all. My grandparents rock. Yours probably do to.
So, here's your assignment: Go talk to your grandparents this weekend! If you can't visit them in person, call them on the phone. Maybe they're lonely. I'm sure they miss you. And, if you take the time to listen, I can almost guarantee you'll learn something. At the very least, I hope you feel the love. - Mar 08, 12
After a dark period in my writing, both literally and figuratively, I have emerged from my winter slump and begun making good progress on my WIP again.
And, I think I may owe part of this success to Chuck Wendig of terribleminds.com. He has had some really awesome advice on his site as of late, and though he, along with others, have inspired me to stop reading so much writing advice and just get writing, I tried out one of his tips and had fun with it. It was Tip #3: ‘Start Trying New Stuff’, from his article, “25 Things Writers Should Start Doing.”
I had been basically just writing the first draft of this WIP straight through from beginning to end, and it had been working for me for the first 40,000 words. Then, as I may have mentioned before, I *ahem* was losing steam in the middle of Part I.
So, the other day, when I sat down to write with a record of big band music from 1941, the year in which the novel starts, on, and the image of a dance in Part II which was not in the outline appeared in my mind, I figured, well, why not? Why not try this shaking things up stuff? What's it going to hurt? I'll just have written a scene, which may or may not appear in the final draft. Whatever.
So, I wrote it. And then, I wrote some more of it the next day.
Then, I wasn't sure where it was going to go from there, but I felt like sticking in Part II (yes, partly because it seemed easier than going back to where I had left off in Part I), so I wrote some other scenes that took place before the ones I had already written.
Is this earth-shattering news? No. But, it has been interesting to allow myself the freedom to create the novel in a non-linear way, even if the story itself will be told in a straightforward linear fashion. And about 5,000 words emerged quite easily.
Where do I go from here? Probably back to Part I. But, who knows how the book will come together. I don't really care how it does, as long as it does! - Jan 05, 12
...And, we're back!
Welcome to 2012, everybodee. (In old school Sesame Street books from the '70s, they spell it that way. I'm not sure why. Is it because they want you to know that they are holding out the 'ee' sound?)
I hope you like the new look around here. As a starving artist, I don't have much in the budget for web design, so for now I am doing it myself. Though, I do want to give a huge shout-out to ShabbyBlogs.com for this awesome Jane Austen-inspired background and StarSunflower Studio for the pretty little tabs "sewn" on over to your right.
There should be a few more tweaks coming soon, but I am almost ready to let it rest (for now) and get back to what I'm actually here for, viz. blogging.
Stay tuned here for (at least once) weekly updates on me (because I'm just that interesting), my writing (will John and Annie ever leave the creek--actually, they already have), and other news of a literary nature.
I pray 2012 will be a blessing to you all, fair readers! - Dec 29, 11
Just in case anyone is wondering what is going on around here--yours truly is attempting the DIY at giving this blog a facelift for the new year. I promise I will settle on a pretty look sometime soon. In the meantime, sorry for any craziness you may happen upon, layout-wise. (There can be no apologies for other kinds of craziness you may find here. Without it, I'm afraid there wouldn't be much of a blog.)
- Dec 23, 11
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12
- Dec 13, 11
Remember all that freedom and liberty that I was ranting about last week? Well, Congress is trying to take a little bit of that away from you. Tell them that you'd rather they not.
We've got to do ████ for █████████, ██████! We are the ██████! ████ ████ ████ ██████████! I'm Stephanie Bolmer, and I want you to write to your congressman. - Dec 12, 11
So, I totally just got a birthday present two months early this weekend! And, it's something I've been wanting a long, long time—an elliptical machine!
My morning novel writing sessions will now have to compete with elliptical sessions! This is a good problem to have! The elliptical is the only reason I would ever join a gym. Now, I never have to.
I'm hoping that this is going to actually boost my productivity, however, by giving me more energy. Will keep you updated!
What's your favorite way to keep your instrument (a/k/a your body) in peak condition? - Dec 07, 11
How do I even start to talk about what happened seventy years ago today? As an American, that is a day which will live in my memory as one of the most infamous in our history. Of course, I wasn't there. And neither were most of the people on the internet, either, a fact which is painfully evident by the fact that I have not seen much mention of today's historic importance around here. Where's the commemorative artwork, Google? "Infamy" isn't even on the list of most searched words for the week, let alone the featured word of the day at Merriam-Webster.com. I just surfed over to CNN.com, certain that they, at least, would not disappoint me. Color me disappointed. "GOP Race Risks Becoming a Circus"? That's your headline? Trust me, more Americans know that than know what today signifies. I am shocked to find nary a mention of the attack on Pearl Harbor which launched us into World War II seventy years ago today. Oh, what's that? M*A*S*H*'s Col. Potter dies at age 96? An actor who PLAYED a soldier? What about the servicemen and women who died too young, whose deaths President Franklin Roosevelt promised would not be forgotten? I think CNN has officially lost the last of its status as a quality new source in my eyes. Even on NPR's homepage, I had to scroll down to almost the bottom of the screen to find this slideshow.
I was known to be a pretty patriotic kid. Don't let my Occupy Wall Street-supporting rants on twitter fool you. They don't mean that I do not appreciate the sacrifices made to make this country into an ideal which have been made by millions of her people and others, failed as that ideal may yet be. My first citizenship may be that of the Kingdom of God, but I was born an American. And no war seems more justified in my little hippie mind than World War II.
Okay, are you still reading, or have I scared you away with my diatribe against the media and my own generation? If you're still here, I'll let you in on a thought I had a few weeks ago that makes me rather ashamed, and which hopefully will kick me off my high horse enough to placate you if you were put off by the previous paragraphs. Here it is: Today would have been the perfect day to launch my novel. You know, the one with the first draft that's only half finished? How sick is that, to consider that the 70th anniversary of a tragedy would be good marketing for my own gain? Do we need anymore proof that art and business shouldn't mix? (But, hey, buy my book someday!)
As we learned from the 'Life Cycle of a Book' two posts ago, a book takes a while to be born. So, I have a feeling that the gestation period of my current work-in-progress will probably continue past the 71st anniversary of Pearl Harbor, too. Maybe by the 72nd, I'll be knee-deep in promoting it.
Lest anyone think that I am being hypocritical and callous, I just want to say that I wish that it hadn't happened. But, since it did, it happens to be the pivotal historic moment in this particular story. When better to read a story written around December 7, 1941 than on December 7?
That being said, I leave you with a photograph and a prayer for peace. - Dec 06, 11
Yes, I am back. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a joyous holiday season. I know that I did/am.
Today, to make up for being away so long, I have found a real treat for you. I just discovered author Diana Peterfreund today on twitter. (Twitter is so good for those sorts of things!) She had me at first tweet. And by that I mean, I fell in love with the first tweet I saw on her feed. For, it led me to this:
The Love Diagrams of Jane Austen
If it's one thing our girl Jane knew how to do, it was to tie up loose ends. So, I bring you the fruit of Ms. Peterfreund's labors combining two of my favorite things--Jane Austen, love, and charts. (Okay, so I guess that's three of my favorite things.)
These rock on multiple levels. And for those of you who think that real life is never so entwined, oh, honey. Haven't you ever been to high school? I'm sure that in such limited social circles as those in which Jane's characters traveled, it was inevitably realistic. Even if not, I don't care. Because, I love it. (I may or may not have made a chart similar to this for my high school friends. Using carefully selected pseudonyms. My name was Lycoris.)
Enjoy! - Nov 11, 11
Found this through Janet Kobobel Grant of Books & Such Literary Agency on twitter. It's from Publishing Trendsetter. Pretty cool, huh? (My love for flowcharts will never die.)
This leads me to an update, viz., my third consecutive attempt at NaNoWriMo was pretty much abandoned after the second day. I realized that I just care more about my WIP. And, since that is still in the first purple box up there at the top, making it regrettably far from your awaiting eyes, I think that deserves all my attention until I can move into the blue box.
So, back to John and Annie it is. Got to get out of this "middle of the plot slump." - Nov 02, 11
So, I was all set to tell you that I had decided against NaNoWriMo this year. Then, yesterday morning, I woke up, and it was November. So, I said, 'what the hey' (hay?) and pounded out 1,536 words in one sitting. Then I added another thousand last night before bed. Before I knew it, I became a participant. So, I'm currently at 2,514. I'll let you know if I progress.
Another fun thing I did yesterday was starting to 'mind map' or 'idea map' out some of the characters and story for this NaNo novel. Last week, le day job allowed me to participate in a half-day workshop on idea mapping. It was pretty cool. Basically, it's just allowing yourself to brainstorm in a non-linear way. There are some nice online tools that will allow you to do this for free, though really, using pen and paper is probably more organic (and faster--though perhaps less legible).
I liked the ease of use on the idea maps from mind42.com the best. Let me know if you try it. We could have a little mind map gallery or something! :)
Here's a screenshot of my first idea map made with mind42.com: - Oct 28, 11
Sorry for the lack of posts this week, but it was a crazy busy week in the world of le day job, which left me a bit emotionally drained. I am gonna need some restorative girly time this weekend. Like maybe watching something like this, with which I leave you:
- Oct 25, 11
Yesterday morning, I hit the 40,000 word count mark on my WIP. That's gotta be at least 100 pages printed, right? Kind of crazy to think that I've actually written that much. There were days when I wondered if I would ever make it that far. But, I still have so much to go! Seeing the progress I've made, however, inspires me to believe in my ability to finish.
The verdict is still out on the NaNoWriMo thing. Thinking it might be nice to switch into something different for just a month, but I also was just reading about how "a lady is never rushed." The stress that fuels NaNo might just be unnecessary for me this year. (Who needs stress, ever?) - Oct 22, 11
'Jane Austen Today: Jane Austen Live Action Role Play: A Jane Austen LARP sounds like fun, and as the author of this article says , she might do it again if she didn't have to sew her own outfit....'
Okay, so I've never done a LARP before (and, admittedly, I always kinda looked at the kids who were LARPing on Friday nights in college a little funny), but this sounds pretty amazing! I want to be Marianne! - Oct 20, 11
NaNoWriMo approaches.
For those of you unfamiliar with 'NaNo,' it stands for 'National Novel Writing Month.' An international phenomenon, actually, you can learn more about it at that font of knowledge, Wikipedia. Basic premise: Write 50,000 words in 30 days. (Which, to me, seems like only half a novel, but what do I know?)
I first learned about this craziness back in college from friends who were committed NaNo veterans. I never actually made an attempt until after college, but the past two years (2009 and 2010) saw me start, fall behind, and never finish my NaNo novels. (Last year should barely even count, really.)
I told myself earlier in the year that when November rolled around, I was just going to ignore the whole thing and keep plodding faithfully right along with John Nagna. As the calendar marches on, however, I've been seeing talk of NaNoWriMo pop up all over the interwebs. Not surprising, considering all the writing on writing I've been reading lately. But, it's pricking at my ears (eyes?!), and I find myself tempted to let John and Annie chill under the willow tree for a month so that some other kids can have their turn at the first draft bat. (Wow, okay, a lot of metaphors going on here today. Sorry, folks!)
Meeting the 50,000 word mark seems a lot more doable now that I am practiced in writing in the mornings, and it certainly is a tempting notion to get another one of the books haunting me 'out of me' as I like to say. But, something about it seems kind of wrong. It's not that this is a 'throwaway' plot or something. It's one that I've been wanting to write for a while. But, I guess I just really want to stick to one project and see this draft of John Nanga through to the end before I start another one. (A problem which has been a real issue for me all along, as I have so many ideas!)
I don't know yet whether I'll take the plunge this November or not (I'm thinking not), but if you want to, more power to you! Here's some good advice on how to 'win' the challenge from Roz Morris of 'Nail Your Novel': NaNoWriMo Starts Right Here, Right Now and Nail NaNoWriMo! Roz' Seven Top Tips. - Oct 19, 11
I am still in a Jane Austen state of mind since last week's celebration. You may notice I've added a few 'Austen Blogs' to my blog list. On of these blogs, AustenBlog, I found the most ingenious little tool:
THE JANE AUSTEN THESAURUS at www.writelikeausten.com.
It tells you if the word you are looking up was ever used by Jane Austen in any of her novels, and other words she might have used instead. It also includes a list of related terms she never used.
I'm afraid I might have to keep myself from checking my word choice against Jane's too often now....
Have fun with it, though! :) - Oct 14, 11
Since it is still Jane Austen Week, I thought I'd end it up with a little Friday fun! Here are links to some quizzes which will help you determine who you would be in Jane's world.
This one (sorry, no picture!) said I'd most likely be Marianne Dashwood from Sense & Sensibility, followed in second place by Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey. (Must say, it may not be pretty, but it's spot on with those two.)
Another:Which of Jane Austen's Gentlemen Would You End up With? Your Result: Col. Brandon (The Father Figure) You are an emotionally high strung person with a wonderful gift for self expression and an intense love of life. Sometimes your enthusiasm and uncomprimising ardor can lead you to commit social faux pas or embarrass your family and friends. Lucky for you you can admit your mistakes and learn from them - earning the admiration of this most loyal, calm and long-suffering of Austen's heroes. Cheers. Men are like wine; they get better with age.Mr. Bingley (The Boy Next Door) Captain Wentworth (The Soldier Boy) Henry Crawford (The Bad Boy) Mr. Darcy (The Aloof Prince) Mr. Knightley (The Best Friend) Mr. Collins (The Prick) Which of Jane Austen's Gentlemen Would You End up With?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz
This one (again, no picture) is for the guys, or for you to take to find out who your ideal guy would be...? (Or, if you are a girl and wish to be silly like me, to see which guy you would be. It said I'm Mr. Darcy. Must ponder that a while....)
And one last one for the spin-off fans out there:My Result: You are Ellie Barnett from According to Jane by Marilyn Brant! on quiz: Austen-Inspired Heroine Quiz You are Ellie Barnett from According to Jane by Marilyn Brant!You are an imaginative and intelligent introvert who is searching for love. In your quest for true love you have come across some Collinses and Wickhams, but hold fast to the belief that your very own Mr. Darcy is out there. With Jane Austen's voice as your guide, you know you will one day find your own perfect union.To find out more, see Marilyn's website, marilynbrant.com.Quiz School Take this quiz & get your result
Enjoy! Let me know which character you are. I know that I am Marianne and my man is Brandon, so of course, it was nice to see the quizzes say that. But, even if they're wrong, leave a comment saying which character you most identify with. And, please, if you know of any other good quizzes, let me know! - Oct 13, 11So, as I have previously mentioned, it is Jane Austen Week over at Historical Tapestry. I hope you have had a chance to check out their posts about her, her works, and those works inspired by her this week. I know I confessed that I have not read many "spin-offs" or "sequels" based on Jane's works because I struggle with trying to recreate her unique voice and talent, but I can see why people write them. If only Jane had lived longer to give us more than her six and a half major works....I feel as though I came into my knowledge of Jane Austen rather late, though I suppose that she would not fault me for bearing her "an affection formed so late in life as at seventeen."* I had never read her at all until my senior year of high school, when Pride & Prejudice was on the reading list for my English class. For some reason or other, I had gotten Jane some prejudice against her in my mind, thinking she would be too dull or severe for my tastes.Then, I actually picked up the book.And my reaction was: "Jane Austen, where have you been all my life?!"It was love at first read, and I have never looked back.I devoured her five other completed novels within the next two or three years. By the time I had the opportunity to take an English course devoted solely to a close study of Jane during my junior year of college, I had already read them all at least once.When I moved to Illinois two years ago, my first "girls' movie night" with my new group of friends was a screening of the six-hour BBC version of Pride & Prejudice. Those who had never seen it and were busy knitting and chatting (not okay, people!) expressed their gratitude for my being there to serve as interpreter for the finer points of the plot they had missed.So, what does this mean for me, other than I have been transformed into a rabid fangirl?It means that there is a standard set. A heroine whose greatness I can aspire to. A classic, respected example of a female writer writing love stories which no one would dare label as "just romance." Don't get me wrong, I'm a hopeless romantic, but what I love about Jane is that her words enthrall your heart while also tickling your wits. And vice versa. I do not expect that I will ever live up to the legend that is Jane Austen. I do not wish to be a clone or imitation of her, either. I know I am the only me in the world, and that is who I need and want to be. But, as I said before, I dearly long to read more by Jane. Because, her writing is one of the kinds I like the very best. And, I believe that writers should write what they would want to read. So, if I end up having a desperate lover riding up on a horse or two in one of my books someday, don't be surprised. Jane was just lucky because more people still rode horses in her day.*(from Chapter 50 of Sense & Sensibility, if you were wondering)
- Oct 12, 11
I was writing right along this morning (breaking the 38,000 mark, I may add) when I realized that this chapter was awfully long. It is not over yet, and it is already the longest of the 12 I've written so far. So, at the end of my writing time, I skimmed through it to see if there was a good place to break.
Now, there has been much written about how chapter breaks should be cliffhangers. I think that this is certainly a technique which can be used well, but I do not subscribe to the idea that every chapter needs to be a nail biter. Maybe if you're writing a thriller or a hardcore mystery, but it's not for everyone.
(I like Roz Morris's advice on this.)
I have been pretty fortunate so far to have the breaks seem to come pretty naturally. I like it being an organic part of the writing process. A few, however, like this one, need to be dealt with. Do I break it up at a point that isn't necessarily a definite page-turner to keep my chapter length average consistent? Or, do I suddenly delve the reader into a 6,000-word chapter because it is flowing so well?
I think I know what I'm going to do, but I want to know what you think. How important is it to you that chapters all be an average length? Do you like your chapters short, or long, or a see-saw of both? Do you always end with a shocker?
(P.S. I promise I will write about Jane soon!) - Oct 10, 11
This morning, I pumped out 1,600 words before work. Total is now over 37,000. Really trying to allow myself to just leave whatever comes out of my fingers on the page and not pause to edit it if I think of something "better." Trying to just let this first draft come out of me, as so many writers recommend. I think I'm having some success. I think my brain has definitely be trained to write in the morning. I just hate when it has to end. :(
- Oct 07, 11
I'm pretty sure the maid's name was supposed to be Kath (short for Katherine) all along. This morning, that's what I wrote, so I guess it's sticking.
THEN, I couldn't remember another character's maiden name! I'm losing it, people!
In case you're looking for good resources for character names, may I suggest some of my very favorite tools?
Nymbler.com is kind of amazing. It's like Pandora for names.
Behindthename.com seems to be the most well-researched database of names on the net, as far as I have found. They also have a separate surnames site, surnames.behindthename.com.
Of course, I would be remiss to neglect to add my favorite name community, nameberry.com. You can find some really unique topical lists and some good advice in their forums.
Babynamewizard.com is good, too. They have some really unique tools like the NameMapper and NameVoyager you should be sure to check out!
And the granddaddy of them all, the Social Security Administration's list of the most popular names for the past year in the United States is an awesome resource to find out what real people are named in any given year back to 1880. This has been a huge help as I wrote my novel. It lets me know, for example, that, yes, Mack was in the top 250 given boys' names in 1923, so I can totally use it on its own. Ironically, it looks like 1923 was the last year John ranked #1 before losing its millenia-long crown to Robert. (I didn't notice that until just now.)
If anyone has any other favorite resources I've missed on finding names, let me know! - Oct 06, 11
Last night, I finished reading a novel I had put down for over a month because the death of one of the characters was so depressing, I couldn't keep reading. Fortunately, it had a happy ending.
I also went to the library to check out a bunch of books that I think might be similar to the kind I'm trying to write. I decided I haven't been reading enough. We'll see if I find time to read any of them before they're due. (I am notorious for racking up library fines, even when I live within walking distance of the library, as I have in my last two dwelling places!)
This morning, I awoke on my own before 6:00. I decided to get up and start the day before the alarm went off since I was already awake (and since, technically, I want to be getting up before 6:00 anyway). I just about finished up the next chapter of my own novel, putting out over 1,000 words in less than two hours. I am now over 33,000 words total.
It was most distressing to discover I wanted to mention the maid and I couldn't remember her name. I mean, I'm a name expert. I pride myself on remembering the middle names of all of my seventh grade crushes (and there were many). And, I can't even remember what name of a character I breathed life into?!
In my defense, this character used to be three different characters before I decided that the house could get on with just one maid, and the names have changed more than once. But, still, I can't remember her name! Oh, well, I will either find where I wrote it down or get to look at more 1920's baby names. All problems should have such pleasant remedies.
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Tweets
- #Brides, I <3 the tip for updo-induced headache prevention via @theknot's Top 13 Bridal Beauty Don'ts http://t.co/P3fHGzUZMay 19, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Got totally #inspired for a great possible title for my WIP this morning! :D #amwritingMay 19, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Do all you #babyname fans out there know about this #BabyNameExplorer tool? Just discovered it! http://t.co/nRxPLpG9May 11, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- #HappyMayDay! This American would really like to bring back the #maypoles, whaddya say?May 01, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Writer/Blogger @JeffGoins' new eBook comes out today #YouAreaWriter(SoStartActingLikeOne) http://t.co/Z1Rdadt4 I #amwriting, are you?May 01, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Still going through #IdentityCrisis due to being #Sorted into #Slytherin on @Pottermore. #PottermoreApr 18, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Finally got into @pottermore! Yay. Sorted into #Slytherin. WTF?!??! :(Apr 16, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Apr 13, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @jennybent How about just "chair"?
- I could probably get out "This Is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams @nprbooks @MorningEdition
- Although, actually, it's for so much more than that.... I <3 #Pennsylvania 4EVER!Apr 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- And they're both in the place I call "home." You wonder why I think PA is the best state in the union? #KnowYouKnowApr 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- RT @ChuckWendig wait - PA has a Peeps factory & Crayola factory? That's where we should brainwash enemy combatants into loving America!Apr 05, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Um, @Office, why is 'Dementor' not in your dictionary? #MuggleProblemsApr 04, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Have to share this vid of the #RoyalWedding (It's been almost a year?!) http://t.co/wI11WokE Gave me goosebumps!Apr 02, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
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Posts
Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
It’s easier to go down a hill than up it, but the view is much better at the top.
No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There’s too much work to do.
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.
A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.
Most good things have been said far too many times and just need to be lived.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.
