Happy Birthday America!

Well, it's the fourth everyone! I realize I haven't had enough time to get out of practice of blogging, but somehow I've managed to. It isn't because forget or don't have anything to say. Ha! Imagine me with nothing to say!  Its more or less because I have a broken computer at home and no internet service. Yeah, so the only way I could write would have to be on my phone, and lets face it, who wants to blog even as much as a paragraph, squinting. Not I. Anyhoo. Not too much has been going on lately. The baby and I have gone swimming once since my last post, and this time with a giant speedboat floaty. Its adorable and he adores it. I plan to take him again soon.

Now then on to a much more exciting topic....well to me anyway. I am writing a novel! Something I've always ALWAYS wanted to do. I write many things including music, but never a novel. I have attempted short stories of all sorts, with the intention of extending them, but to no avail. But I recently recalled something a teacher once said about me, and that's what I'm focusing on. She said, "Now....Allison, is a wonderful storyteller." It was in front of the entire 8th grade class. I was like say what??  But now I'm like...hey, whatever works. LOL. So yeah, I'm in the process of developing my characters, and I'm having so much fun doing it! Since I am a firm believer in there being no reason on earth, why anyone should have to reinvent the wheel, I Google everything :) I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing, but when I Google and YouTube, there is no need to know it all. Supposedly, some writers use questionnaires and devise charts to get to know their characters. The questions range from how old your characters are, to how many siblings they have. Its been exciting to think up the endless scenarios, and how my character will interact with each other. I have decided to write my story in 1st person, this being my number one challenge. I guess it has something to do with my fear that readers will link controversial attitudes and behaviors to me. I have often wondered if authors chicken-out for fear of what people will think. I however endeavor to be continually learning and growing which is precisely the reason I will likely keep it in 1st. It seems more realistic if I write from that point of view. I even scanned the books I own in search of varying techniques and borrowed one from the library to read as I write. It's helping me think like a writer and beef-up my characters as well as my plot.

The second challenge that I've come up against, is writing from a character's point of view that I do not personally agree with. My main character would probably claim to be agnostic, however I clearly and firmly believe there is a God who knows me and not only that, He loves me. As I am the telling the story from the main characters point of view, I will have to try very hard to not allow my own convictions to taint her own. What fun! Also, I have got to figure out how to stir in the right amount of humor, suspense and romance. One of my biggest concerns is how I will avoid turning this novel into one fat ball of mush... if you know what I mean...I'm not trying to script a soap opera here. I'm hoping for as true to life as I can make it. Something interesting that keeps happening to me, is that I'm seeing the names of my characters and places in my story, everywhere I go. Found one was scratched on a brown table outside McDonald's, one on a road sign I turned on, I read one in someones face book status....now these are not all common names and places people. Do you know how imaginative I am? I'm serious, and it just keeps happening. I'm loving it. Keeps my motivated and focused. I've also had my eye out for other names that better capture the heart and soul of certain characters, so nothing is in stone yet. So for now its just write and rewrite. Anyhoo... I will try to keep you updated on my progress. Ta Ta



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