A history of writing...

Last week, I (and a few friends) were organizing my garage. This meant that I went through most of the boxes in there. There were the usual random stuff - shoes, stuffed animals (lots of stuffed animals), old files, books, photos and stuff from junior high and high school. I know my parents still have some of that old school stuff in their garage, but I have a couple boxes that are my "important" memories from back then. In there, I found the school newspapers from my senior year - I was in the seminar play (mind you, there wasn't a "school" play, the seminar program that I was in put on the play). Actually, my participation in acting preceded high school - I was in my junior high's school play. So, did three plays in high school - sophomore, junior and senior years. Memories... And a love for storytelling...

Speaking of which... I found a play that I wrote in junior high. There was a program that I participated in. I remember going to after school workshops that taught us how to write a play. Of the two years that I attended the program, I was the only one in the school that actually finished and submitted my play. I think it was called Young Playwrights. I always thought that it was such a long play. I leafed through it. It was 18 pages long. Eighteen pages! Only!

Needless to say, it didn't take me long to read. I vaguely remembered what it was about. Actually, there were a few lines that I've always remembered and would think of time to time over the years (many years... wow! How time flies!). What's funny is that some habits die hard. Not habits exactly. But, favorites, I guess. One of the names of the main characters is similar to my current heroine. Same main name, different nickname. The favorites of one of the characters from the play is similar to that of some of my current main characters.

Time has passed, I'm more experienced, but some things didn't change. In one sense, I'm still the same me that I was back then. I've always tried to be true to myself and not be flighty. That's what I try to teach my students (beyond the math curriculum).

Soundtrack

As, I've written the first book, I started noticing certain songs that seemed to "fit." Fit the theme of the book, fit the relationship between characters or a particular mood. So, I kept a list. I have a working list of songs, that... if I were to give a somewhat musical interpretation or mood creator, I could. My husband would hear songs and tell me about them because it reminded him of my book. I'd listen and, sure enough, it really worked. One of my friends suggested a song and made it on my soundtrack list. They are the only two that know about my list.

Now, I've taken a little step further. I created a playlist in my mp3 player with the songs. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. Maybe because I'm busy teaching, writing, and dealing with all my other commitments. It's one of my favorite playlists. The only problem is when I play it when I'm driving, I'm thinking about those moments in the book that remind me of the song. Don't get me wrong, that's great. I just can't think or see what's coming next when I sing along with a song or am thinking back. I usually play instrumentals when I'm driving and I want to think about my story.

I've played my book soundtrack in the classroom, before school one day as students came in to hangout. Several of them commented that they liked the songs. Some they had heard, others they hadn't. They wanted to know the names of those they didn't. It's a good sign that they are good songs and illicit the emotion I was hoping for.

Anyway, I'm still on the lookout for songs. Actually, now I'm seeking songs for both the first and second book. It's a fun tangent to think about with my story...

Quick update

So, in the last week or so, I've done a couple of little big things. I submitted my book for copyright. That was an interesting process. I know that by just writing it, it's technically covered under copyright laws. But, for piece of mind, I decided to do it. Of course, the tough part of me was the title. Always the title for me. In my mind, my heart, it's one thing. But I don't know if it's "good enough" as a title. It makes perfect sense to me, but would it be enough of a hook for someone looking through titles in the bookstore? I don't know.

The second thing I did the other day. Sent out a couple more letters to agencies. So, the wait begins again. I really would love for it to appear in print. Not for my ego or vanity, but I think it's a story that many people can connect to and it has characters people can love.

Sorry to keep it short, class is going to start soon. Next time, I'll talk about my soundtrack.

When inspiration hits..

The tough part about going back to work is that I know I won't have as much time to write. That said, I started writing my first book during the crazy part of the Spring. Spring is a VERY busy time for me, with school and my other committments. But, I was a little sad to go back to work knowing that I couldn't spend as much time with my characters as I would have liked.

What's funny... well, not funny "ha, ha" but funny ironic is that the second I walked on campus flashes came to me. I had things I wanted to write. Of course, I couldn't. I had lessons to give, students to teach. So, during my whatever little free moments I had during lunch or during my prep (after I had finished running off copies and doing all the teacher stuff I had to do - have to get the real work done first), I jotted down ideas and wrote. When you consider I only had maybe 40 minutes total to do this, I wrote about three pages. I had been going over and over it in my head all day, so it was nice to get it down in the computer when I had the chance. When I got home - after a long day, my throat was killing me because of all the lecturing I was doing after not projecting my voice all week - I wrote at least another two or so pages.

Now, five pages for the day might seem slow going. But to me it's progress when you realize that it's not a full time job and I have to juggle many other things along with it.

Teaching... you get to see so many people - students and teachers - and each has a different story to tell. Just being around so much stimuli inspires me.

Well, the bell will ring in about 13 minutes... Need to put a different hat on now...

PS - I just looked around my classroom and there's probably over 15 students just hanging out.