If there is a writer in your life, then you already know some of the weird stuff we're capable of while writing. I asked my roommates what weird stuff I do whenever they think I'm writing, and they were able to name off several things without thinking too hard about it. If you don't have a writer in your life, or don't pay enough attention to the one that is, here's just a sneak peak at all the weird truths we live by.
1. Inspiration is everywhere... literally.
Whether it's from an odd snippet of a conversation overheard on the way to work or a misheard lyric from a favorite band, our next story idea is always lurking in the corners, ready to strike at the oddest of times.
2. The number of notebooks & legal pads we've bought in this lifetime will never be enough.
You know those math problems from elementary school, where someone buys 52 notebooks and 16 dozen pencils? Yeah, that's us.
3. A plethora of useless and/or disturbing knowledge.
I don't know which is more concerning, the fact that there are websites dedicated to names meaning death and how to give yourself stitches, or the fact that I have both of these websites bookmarked.
4. Death is exciting.
There is no greater rush than building up a scene to its beautiful climax: the death of a beloved character. Readers will cry, but us writers? We celebrate.
5. Everything we write is garbage.
There's a quote by Shannon Hale that gets passed from experienced writers to those just starting out that says "When writing a first draft, I have to remind myself constantly that I'm only shoveling sand into a box so later I can build castles." This is just a fancy way of saying "What I'm currently writing is garbage, and I know it's garbage, but it's the first draft so I don't have to care yet."
6. Procrastinating isn't just an option, it's an expectation.
Writers love writing. That's why we're writers, right? But there's one thing that we love more than writing, and that's procrastinating. Why is it we procrastinate something we love so much? The world may never know.
7. Writing fifty thousand words in thirty days is totally possible.
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). NaNoWriMo is "a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel." This year I'll be using NaNoWriMo to power through the second draft of Piano Man, the novel I finished the first draft of over the summer. If you'd like to follow my progress throughout the month of November, keep an eye on my writing tumblr and my NaNoWriMo page!
