Happy New Year

Like most writers (I would imagine), I have resolutions to write more and write better. It was in a recent guest post I participated in where I said:

New Years Resolutions. Write. Write, write, write. Write more. Write better. Because it’s through my creativity that I can be inspired. That I can inspire. For, isn’t that where it all begins?

I do believe that. On my page on Facebook, I recently posted the words:

I think I just wrote the prologue… to something.

What is this, a Once Upon a Time convention? Anyways.

The point is, I am a writer. Last Friday, I was taking a walk, when the ending of a story flashed before my eyes like I was suffering from a near-death experience, or something. Hence, the prologue. I had already discussed the idea for the novel with a writer friend of mine, but I never imagined it would end… or start… like this.

For me, 2012 is the year of The Write. We’ve got Amber Passion coming up soon, to end The Enchanters Series. Don’t even ask me how I feel about that. Sadness? Happiness? Relief, that I’ve pushed myself this far in my writing? All of the above, maybe. In any case, it will end, and the next chapter of Allie Burke’s writing will begin. I can focus on the ending of Existence, the start of this other novel (beyond the prologue, of course), and maybe a short story or two. I expect this new blog to grow (tell your friends!) and to spend more time talking about myself (see my last post – I’m not that self-centered, I promise).

So, there you have it. Write more, write better, and do my very best not to injure myself running again any time soon (long story – maybe another time).

And now, I must copy this post from the back of three envelopes since my computer undoubtedly hates me. (See my tweets – @allieburkebooks)

Happy New Year to all, and if you went to bed last night at approximately 11:03 PM like me, I think you’re cool. For the record.
Posted by Allie at 10:41 AM 1 comments
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Labels: allie burke, amber passion, existence, happy new year, writing
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Dear NaNoWriMo, a rambling which will bear a strong resemblance to that of Maggie Stiefvater’s, and that which has every probability of ending on a bad note.
I know what you’re thinking.

It’s ’cause she couldn’t do it.
It’s ’cause she failed.
She’s bitter.

Maybe. I guess it’s possible I’m bitter. But at whom? Myself? Or at the mere mention of NaNoWriMo?
She’s not for me. She, being NaNoWriMo. Why she’s a she, we may never know.

Dear NaNoWriMo, I’m breaking up with you.

Actually, no. NaNoWriMo, I’m not going to break up with you. Not that, because that would leave the possibility of me and you, together again.

No, no, no. No.

Halfway through the month of November, also known as National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo, I was inspired by NYT Bestselling YA Author Maggie Stiefvater. She had reposted a blog called Dear NaNoWriMo. I said I was inspired. Inspired not to keep writing. That might sound odd coming from a self professed writer, but it’s the truest truth I can come up with. You see, she said NaNoWriMo wasn’t for her. The rush of NaNoWriMo contributed to, dare I say it:

Bad. Writing.

That’s right, I said it. Bad writing, I say again. Maybe some of you can write fast, write well, altogether in one 50,000 word package that is NaNoWriMo. Actually, I know some of you can, cause I saw you do it. If that’s you, I salute you. I salute you because, well… I can’t.

I shouldn’t say I can’t. That’s bad. I’ve never been a supporter of “I can’t”. But it is what it is.

NaNoWriMo, you have to die.

I tried you, NaNoWriMo, for the sake of trying, and it poisoned my style, and made me… not want to write.
I did not want to write because suddenly writing… was not writing but rushing and a chore and word count, word count, word count.

Oh, screw you, word count. I see you down there, taunting me from the corner of the screen. Writers can count too, dammit.

And so, I will kill you. You will die. You will die right now and you will never see the light of my computer screen again. And I will go on, through November and past December, writing, how writing was meant to write.

With the passion for that which I love.

“Word.” -Tymothy Longoria
Posted by Allie at 4:16 AM 0 comments
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Labels: maggie stiefvater, nanowrimo, tymothy longoria, writing
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

New Blog!!!
I have a new blog!! It's called "in the clouds, a novelist's blog", and you can get there by clicking this:

http://allieburke.wordpress.com

I'll probably still post here for a while, in addition to there. But, the goal is to eventually transition to... there.

So... go there! :)
Posted by Allie at 5:52 PM 0 comments
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Labels: new blog
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011

Happy Halloween, NaNoWriMo, and... well, yeah. NaNoWriMo.
Alright, kids. Today's the day. Well, actually, tomorrow's the day, but today is the last day of freedom before "the day". The first day of NaNoWriMo which will lead into a month of writing, writing, writing. This past weekend is when I started getting nervous, and last night I dreamt that I woke up to like, 100 bad reviews. No doubt my over-imaginative mind effing with me, but still. It makes a writer think. What if I'm not cut out for this?

I am, I keep reminding myself. This is what I love and I can feel it when I write, that sensation of magic in the air when my words bleed onto the page, as if there is no life that doesn't exist, no world that I cannot live in. These are the feelings that keep me going, that keep me writing, because even if there are 100 bad reviews to wake up to, there is no word or pain that can stop me. This, is what I do.

And so, here on this Halloween Monday, my mind is gearing up for 30 days of writing. Do I have much of an outline? An idea of what I will be writing? Not really. But that is what NaNoWriMo is all about, isn't it? Just write. And that's exactly what I intend to do.

Happy Halloween, by the way. I don't want to be that guy (errrr, girl), but I might as well come out with it. I'm not a fan. I fear clowns, and... scary... things, and I don't watch scary movies. I don't mind horror novels, I'll read them, but anything else puts me in nightmare territory, of which I'm not a fan either. So I'll continue with the paranoid attitude for the rest of the day, waiting for something to jump out at me at any second, while y'all go trick or treat-ing.

Well, here I go. Midnight tonight, and I'm lighting up that keyboard with a word or two. Or 50,000.

Wishing you all a great week and a happy Halloween. Be safe, and do wish me luck.