Entry 5: Finding Balance

     So as some of you know I am a full time student in my final 2 semesters, I graduate in the fall as a video production major (I'll actually graduate with 2 degrees but that is a whole other matter). The past week has been hectic, with literally over 7 hours of homework to be done by tomorrow (just one class mind you, I have others) I have had very little time to write of post here. In fact, I'm sitting here writing this in between classes, my documentary class starts in 15 minutes. I have to direct a feature length documentary this semester, more details on that later. But I at least wanted to post a small update that I am still here and writing. I got a good 2000 words done the other day and have been making more and more decisions regarding the fates of some of my major characters and I've even elevated some characters to more important roles to flesh out the story.
     I'm also trying to do some research by watching movies. I find that film really helps gets my creative juices going and allows me to get so many ideas about my writing. That and I need the research for my documentary which we will be starting in the coming weeks. It's on the paranormal and should be quite fun to shoot as I'll get to go ghost hunting around some of the most haunted locations around the state, and some lesser known ones as well.
     Hopefully my time will open up a bit in the next few days so I can get some more work done on all my projects all around. But I hope everyone is doing well. More to come soon!!!

-Spenser

Entry 4: Making Time

     So today was a decent day. The first day of classes left me exhausted, especially since I'm still recovering from my flu bug. I took some Nyquil and went to sleep. Waking up today at around 2:30 I got up happy to find that most of the snow melted. But unfortunately, classes had already been canceled and the college was closed so any hope of buying my textbooks was gone for today. But I still get my headphones right? So I went to my local Guitar Center and took my broken headphones to get them replaced since I paid for the pro coverage when I bought them 2 years ago. Sadly, they are very misleading when it comes to selling you this coverage. They say when you buy it, you can just bring in your broken gear and get it replaced...not the case. You have to make a claim online, then the company sends you a box and has you send the item to them where they will inspect it and send you a card with the amount you paid for the item on it. This process can take a few weeks, and since I need them by next week, I was out of luck. I told this story as a FYI, just in case you are ever offered such coverage, you should ask how it works before you pay. Either way, I'm still going to buy my new pair when I go to get my textbooks tomorrow.
     Anyway, I finally made time to sit down and punch out a 1000 words of my second chapter tonight. Really happy with it. I didn't even plan any of the story I wrote tonight, I just started writing and it came naturally. It was more of a flashback, but I like the foreshadowing I created in it. Really shows you where the character is coming from and how he comes to reside in the town he is in now. And possibly what awaits him. I already know what I want to add next, but I am holding off until possibly tomorrow. I don't want to write so much that I get burnt out. I'm taking this seriously and taking all the time I need to make sure this is good. No rushing, I have made that mistake with some of my earlier screenplays and I don't want to follow that road again.
     I read a post on another writer's blog last night that was talking about how it's bad for a writer to blog about writing. They said it was because it would have very limited exposure, and that we should make our writing a secondary part of our blog, not the primary. It struck me wrong. It came off as the only reason to blog is for exposure and money. I write this blog because I enjoy it. Hell, I know no one really reads this but it helps ME to come on here and clear my head when I can. Kind of like a personal journal but on the web. I want to be able to look back on this in a few months and see how my writing has changed and reflected what I was going through at the time. Sure I talk about other things besides my writing since this is also my personal blog but the primary focus is my writing and where and how I am making my way towards my goal of finishing my first novel. I don't know. I just wanted to mention it. I'm not writing this for money. This is a hobby and I don't expect to get money or any attention for doing this. I enjoy doing it and I think that really all I can ask for.
     I'll try and post again tomorrow night. I'm getting my textbooks and spending time with my fiance tomorrow but I should have enough time tomorrow night to get some writing and a blog post done.

- Spenser

Entry 3: The Flu Bug

     So for the past week I have been in bed with the flu, or something that acts like the flu. My head was clogged and I had a massive earache but I'm finally starting to recover. Just in time for school of course. My ear is still a bit clogged but the pain has decreased significantly. So, I can't complain.

     Anyway back on topic, school started today and I have a full workload this semester with 15 credit hours. It's the first of my final two semester so I'm trying to make the most of my time left. My Audio professor seems to be pretty cool so I'm happy about that, but I am a bit conflicted about my Screenwriting professor. He comes off a bit...eccentric. Which could be a good thing. By the beginning of May (the end of the semester) we need to have 30 pages of a screenplay written. What he calls "Act 1." I'm excited to start from scratch on this one. He creeps me out, but hopefully there is hope left for this guy.

     I haven't had a chance to even pick up writing my novel again since I have been sick...I'm still only 3200 words into it. I have been thinking a lot about finer plot details and decisions on what should happen to to all my characters. Hopefully I will get a chance to get back into it soon. It's snowing here, more than we've had here in a year or so. They say the roads will be awful tomorrow, with the snow freezing and all. If that happens, it will put my plans to get my textbooks and a new pair of studio headphones (my old pair somehow broke) on hold. That disappoints me, as I was looking forward to getting all this done and out of the way, but it will give me a chance to dive back into my story. I will try and post again tomorrow, sorry for the lack of posts lately, it's been a hectic week.

-Spenser

Entry 2: Brainstorming

     Not much writing the past two days. Been busy spending time with my fiance and family. Still dealing with my Grandmother's diagnosis. She doesn't have as long as we thought. But I am planning on diving back into writing in the next few days.  I have been brainstorming constantly though. I have completely changed the ending I had in mind and cleared up some finer plot details. I'm really liking the ideas I have been having for certain characters. I've also found things I want to change in the next draft as well. School is approaching a LOT faster than I anticipated so I want to get as much done as I can before then. More updates to come soon!

-Spenser

Entry 1: The Intro

     So I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Spenser. I want to be a writer. In some way or another I guess I have always wanted to be a writer but I never realized it until recently. I'm a video production student in my last 2 semesters of school. I have always had a creative urge to tell stories. I used to only do it through writing screenplays but I was always told my writing style proved to be TOO descriptive for that kind of thing. As a video production student, I enjoy the actual making of a film, but my favorite part has always been the creation of the actual story, getting whats in my head out onto the paper.
     Two weeks ago I quit my job. I start school again in about two weeks. Why? Because I've had an overwhelming urge to start writing again. I couldn't decide in what format, but I finally decided on once recently. I want to try and write a novel. I'm writing an idea that I have had in my head for months now and it feels great to finally flesh it out and get some characters out of my head and give them life. My last days of work was the 5th of January. I started work on my novel yesterday. So far I am about 3,200 words into it. I just finished my first chapter.
     I've decided I want to try and document my progress. Share my triumphs and my problems and difficulties as I have written in a true narrative format before. I have always been too afraid to do that. But I am surprised how naturally it is coming to me. I'm adjusting well enough so far. So I am going to try and post as often as I can, it may not be daily as I will have class starting soon and my Grandmother was recently diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. Not to mention I have to make time to spend with my fiance. But I really want to try and give this a shot, writing a novel, a full story. I'm aiming for at least 50,000 words.
     The next few months should be fun, as this is the first time I have really put my writing at the full focus of my time. I'm enjoying it so far and I hope you all will come along with on my journey from beginning to end, as I write my story. I don't want to limit what I will talk about, since this is also going to be my personal blog, as I believe what I'm currently feeling should influence my writing. Write what you know right? Many of my characters are based off of real people. People I have met or know in real life.
     I hope you all will enjoy following my progress and helping me along in my journey as a new writer.

-Spenser