NaNoWriMo

I didn't think I could do it. I really didn't. When I first heard of it, I was surprised anyone would do it. And then a few years later, I suddenly decided I was going to write an entire novel in November of 2011. I wanted to write about a teenage girl facing an unplanned pregnancy. So I did. And it turned out... okay. Sure, it was very choppy, and so first drafty I couldn't even look at it for weeks afterwards. And I still haven't had the courage to revise it. But that's okay. Because I wrote the whole thing. And I loved doing to so much, I did it again in 2012.

And that one was awful. I wanted to write about a dystopic society that had reverted back to 1800s restrictions. But I also wanted to write a sci-fi novel. So it turned out to be sort of in between, and since I couldn't decide what I wanted it to be, it was ten times choppier than the first one. But I still loved the process. So, I did it for a third time a few months ago.

This time, it was awesome. It's been a long time since anything I wrote flowed that much. Yes, there were times when I got stuck, and there were things I didn't like about it. But I love the finished project. It's about a girl who goes into the Labyrinth to fight the Minotaur, but she's disguised as her brother. I went into it thinking it was going to be very much an action/thriller novel, but it so wasn't. It turned out to be much more about the characters, and their relationships with each other. And I love that book. I love, love, love it. I'm working on the sequel right now, and there characters are my babies. They really are.

Writing With Music

I write with music. Always. I just do. I don't feel like I can't write without music, but I really love having it play in the background.

I know people who say they can't write with music, and my mom can only write with instrumentals. But I will listen to anything and everything.

But what I listen to really depends on what I'm writing. If I'm breaking my heart with a character death, it doesn't help to have "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid" bouncing in my ears. I need something like "With You" from the musical "Ghost." Right now, just so you know, I'm listening to "Better Dig Two" by The Band Perry.

When I was writing my most recent NaNo (working title: Labyrinth) I put together a playlist specifically for that novel. That was all I listened to while I wrote that novel, and I haven't listened to it since. I now have a playlist for my other writing. It's mostly sad songs, because, honestly, that's what I write.

First Post!

Hi!
This is my first post (obviously) on my new blog, Come, Do Battle With Words. I am very excited, because I have not actively kept a blog for a long time.

On this blog, I will talk about writing, reading, quoting, and being considered a "nerd."

I will tell you a little about myself! My name is Liz, and yes, I am a nerd. But I don't take that as an insult. I think being a nerd is cool, because basically it means you get excited about stuff, and you like learning. What's wrong with that? I am a nerd about many things, including Harry Potter, Jane Austen, BBC Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Rick Riordan books.

I am a writer, and I have written a total of three novels through NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and two novellas before that. I am currently in the process of writing several short stories, as well as the sequel to my 2013 NaNoWriMo novel. I am also trying to work up the courage to dive back into my 2013 novel, and begin revisions.

So, I guess I should thank you for visiting Come, and I hope you will comment and visit again!