What to do when you are stuck

I came across something today that was very interesting. It said,

Make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next.

In the novel I am writing, I was at a very stuck spot where I wasn't sure where to go. I knew I wanted this character to change, but I wasn't sure how to make him change and have it be believeable because this character is very evil. I started making a rather lousy list of what wouldn't happen next, and got a brilliant idea. I may not use it, but I'll keep ploughing on. I think this technique works! 

Autumn Splendor

Yellow, mellow, ripened days,
Sheltered in a golden coating;
O'er the dreamy, listless haze,
White and dainty cloudlets floating;
Winking at the blushing trees,
And the sombre, furrowed fallow;
Smiling at the airy ease,
Of the southward flying swallow.
Sweet and smiling are thy ways,
Beauteous, golden Autumn days.

Will Carleton

I love that sun-warmed feeling, the beautiful blue sky, the flaming leaves of late September!

Writing Magic

I've been reading this book called Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine, author of fabulous fairy-tale retellings such as Ella Enchanted, Fairest, The Two Princesses of Bamarre and others. The slim book featuring a hand with a pen writing Magic on some parchment with magical looking swirls on coming out of it holds lots of helpful tips for writing written in a practical but funny way. With a lot of writing exercises, advice and other such things broken down into subject chapters, it's a great help to any aspiring author!

Quote

"To read is to empower
To empower is to write
To write is to influence
To influence is to change
To change is to live."
-Jane Evershed

3:00 Thursday August 30, 2012

I wander the kitchen, bored. Standing on the edge of the step down into the living room, I observe a shaft of sunlight falling from the skylight onto a basket overflowing with notebooks. The ceiling fan whirrs and clicks above me, false wind in contrast to the rustling leaves outside. Through the smudged window I see the branches making dark patterns shifting on the sunny driveway. The fan, the wind and the wind-chimes blend together into one silence. Books and papers clutter the living room table, an incomplete to-do list, Christmas coasters, a red composition book and the laptop computer. I click the lid open to record my rambling thoughts. Behind me a disheveled bookshelf, a mess of wires on the floor to my right. The wireless modem cords make shadows on the sunlight against the white wall. To the left side of the computer screen I can see the branches of the hemlock tree in the front yard waving in the wind against the blue sky. Keys click. Moments are recorded. The last few days of a busy summer. There’s things to do. But for now, I let my thoughts ramble on.

Alix Poetry

A title, finally, a rather obvious one: "A Princess of Hesse: A Novel in Free Verse."
I THINK that's what this type of poetry is called.

7.

The beautiful flowers

Surround us

On the lush grass

The sound of pencils

Scratching on paper

As Ksenia and I sketch.

We talk like we’ve

Known each other

More than a few days.

Ella and Irene approach us

Sit down beside us on

The colourful blanket

Their skirts spread elegantly.

Ella tucks a flower

Behind my ear

I don’t feel so dreadful now

At the prospect of loosing her.

I see Nicholas come towards us

He kneels behind me

Praises my sketch

Teases Ksenia

Calls her a funny nickname.

I try to keep sketching

Not show the strange feeling

I get inside

From him being so close.

Ksenia asks if I have any nicknames.

Grandmamma calls me Sunny sometimes.

Nicholas asks if he can call me that.

It suits you, he says.

I glance warily at Irene

She looks dubious

But Ella is laughing.

No, I don’t mind, I consent

Feeling a funny little thrill

As I say it.

8.

Clinking glasses

Chatter

In languages I can’t understand.

The Tsar at the head of the table

His son at my side.

My cheeks feel hot

I wish I could go outdoors.

I look across the table

At Ella

Laughing with Sergei

Her beautiful eyes sparkling.

I’m going to

Loose her

Companionship

Guidance

Love

In just a few weeks.

To Sergei.

Before tears sting my eyes

In front of everyone,

I block those thoughts

Out of my mind.

I can feel Nicholas’s eyes on me.

I can’t help it

I turn my head.

Instantly

My face becomes

Even more warm

And I look down,

Unable to look him

In the eye.

Inwardly I smile

Forgetting for a moment

That he can’t see it.

But I’m too bashful

To smile to his face.

Yet.

　

　

　

　

More Alix Poetry

Poems 5 and 6 of Part One.

5.

I hug my arms to my chest

Trying to block out

The feelings of something being taken away

Of not being understood

Of being forlorn

Like the motherless little girl

I was, and still am.

Papa worries

Irene reassures

And all I want to do is

Stop the carriage from coming

Prevent it from taking

Ella away.

I don’t want to go

To a foreign country

To watch my

Sister

Mother

Friend

Get married

And stay there forever.

6.

The welcome is

So grand

Ella must feel so honored

And delighted

I feel conflicting emotions

Pride for beautiful Ella

And anger at the Russian people

Welcoming her.

She’s not their Grand Duchess.

She’s my sister.

The Tsar’s daughter

Nine years old

Takes my hand

And pulls me past the fountain

To show me something

In the gardens of their grand palace.

I follow willingly

Glad to have a new friend

And knowing that

Her older brother

Is watching me

Behind us.