Friday, March 25, 2011

Follow Friday For Writers #1

Elizabeth over at Some Sharp Words came up with an amazing idea! What better way to network and connect with fellow writers than to participate in a blog HOP! There's always strength in numbers and so much support/lovin' to receive so join in with the fun. Here's the rules she's set up:

1) (Required) You must follow my blog
2) (Required) You must follow the guest poster featured in the blog hop post.
3) Go to Sharp Words and copy the image code found there and paste it in your blog. Add in your name to the link at the bottom of the page while you're there.
4) Copy and paste the rules in your blog, as well as this week’s question.
5) Answer the question
6) You must copy these rules, the hop link and the featured question with your answer on your own blog. This blog serves as a place for new followers to say hi.
7) Follow, follow, follow. This is about networking, people, making connections with people in your community. So talk to us. We don't bite!
8) If someone stops by, says hi and follows you, the polite thing to do is follow back.
9) Comment here and introduce yourself and you just might find a new follower or two.
Here's this weeks question...
What inspired you to write?
I've always liked to write but I've lacked the confidence. Every now and then an idea would hit and I'd tinker around with it. Maybe about two years ago, someone I spent alot of time talking with, tried to encourage me to start writing again - nothing big and fancy, just whatever inspired me. After I made a very rude noise, I adamantly told him "Craig I will NEVER write." I think I even growled at him. He just gave me this knowing look and left it alone. Two weeks later, I'm in his office with a 10 page answer to something he'd asked me. Something stuck. I was in the middle of a Jonas Brothers obsession *groans* and next thing I knew, I wrote a brief story called "Love Bug", my first ever romance. I had so much fun being creative with it that I whispered to Craig that I'd write something else. Next thing I wrote was a fan fiction for Christine Feehan's Carpathian series called Dark Protection. I got about 15,000 words in and stopped but I was HOOKED. I loved how I felt when I wrote, the magical feel of creating something from my imagination.
I'm pretty lucky. I dream my story ideas. I wake up with a few images and a truckload of emotional residue and I sit down and outline something. I've written bits and pieces since - The Promise of Heat (a paranormal romance), Within The Shadows (romance suspense), The Curse of Illusions (historical romance) and Broken Promises (urban fantasy and book one in trilogy) I've also got folder upon folders of other story ideas - one about love found during a kidnapping, a time travelling princess, a sexy Highlander, a sexy protective vampire guardian and a vampire enforcer on the run. Each one tugs on me to get started and I can't wait to visit them. Right now I'm working on TCofI and editing BP - both have me so excited and I get tingles when I read them.
Another thing that keep me inspired me to write is the friendships I've made with other authors. As an avid reader, I've always seen the creators of the stories I love as people unreachable. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I'd ever be able to chat back and forth, let alone receive support and guidance for my own musings. Whenever I feel discouraged or need some trade advice, I reach out and they are always super helpful. It helps take away the nerves and makes me a better writer. I don't want to drop names but they know who they are and I love them!
So that's my story. I'd be remiss to also include my love for my hubby Mark and BFF Lacey. They're always on stand by, patiently reading through everything I write and they still love me LOL Lacey is an amazing author herself and my greatest cheerleader. She's the one I text early in the morning with "My gosh I had the best dream" and send her photo after photo of my latest muses and crush. Woman's a saint I tell you! Oh and just so you know? I didn't get an "I told you so" from Craig although believe me.. I deserved it. I can't believe how strongly I argued with him. Just goes to show - I don't always know what's best for me. Happy writing everyone and enjoy your weekend!



13 comments:

  1. Bels!! I love that you used the song "Love Bug" to inspire your romance story! :D *whispers* Just between you and I, I like the Jo Bros!

    Glad you've joined in on the hop!!

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  2. Hahaha M.D. - the story is sooooooo bad! I meet Joe and he kisses me! *groan* i can't believe I admitted that. I was such a gushy fan of theirs. I saw them twice in concert, even had a poster or two on my wall. Umm ok i better stop because I'm embarassing myself LOL Joe was a good muse for the teenager part of my girly heart!

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  3. That is an excellent story about how you got into writing! Welcome to the blog roll.

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  4. That was a good story...At least you were inspired to write! And you are all making me feel old...hahah.

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  5. The Jonas Brothers?! LOL. That is awesome. Not really my thing, but I had my share of crushes! Anyone remember Jonathan Taylor Thomas? Oh boy- his face was plastered all over my room when I was a teenager.

    So glad that you are on the Blog Hop!

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  6. Hehe Nichole - I was 34 when I wrote it! But I'll accept that I was a teenager LOL

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  7. That's an awesome story about your writing. :-) Just keep on and don't let anything stop you from here on out. Rooney Band are my Jonas Brothers (they're all best of friends too lol) Write ON!

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  8. Hi from fellow FF hopper. I got the bug about two years ago. BTW I've not heard of any cure. It's been so helpful to have the support and input of writing buddies. Look forward to getting to know all the hoppers better.

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  9. You're like me--working on more than one at a time. I've got three going too, but one of mine is a novella. But the other two take up so much of my time, sometimes the poor little novella gets lost in the shuffle.

    Gabrielle

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  10. Hi Belinda! I am so happy to "meet" you! I have always written nonfiction but just started working on a fiction project a couple of years ago. I can definitely relate to the importance of friendship with other writers to keep inspiration alive; if it weren't for my local chapter of Georgia Romance Writers and my two critique partners, I might have given up long ago! I look forward to keeping up with your progress here on your blog. Good luck in all that you do!

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  11. This is a great blog and a great way to network. I am a new follower and I hope you will follow me back at the Neophyte Writer http://kristibernard.wordpress.com

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  12. Hi bloggin' queen! Loved the story..You are so talented! :c)

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