The Importance of Input for Output

It’s been awhile since I’ve done an input/output entry. Lately I’ve been reading a great deal of non-fiction, books I’m not all that into, and watching a lot of episodic television, so I haven’t had much input to speak of.

I believe this directly correlates with how much trouble I’ve had writing this month.

I’ve said it so many times before: writers have to be avid readers. We have to constantly stimulate the mind in order to stay in touch with our creative sides; too much of our daily grind causes a complete shutdown of creativity, so in order to nurture, to cultivate a mind fertile for ideas to grow, it needs nutrients.

I’ve been starving my poor mind of stimulating input.

It’s true that I’ve had spurts of good, fun writing this month, but overall it’s been a slogfest.

Until two days ago. Writing the last two days has been easier than it has been all month. Fun even.

It’s possible that it’s because I’m nearing the end of my story – I’m finally on the downhill stretch, things are finally starting to happen, my characters are starting to reach the crest of their character arcs – but I think all of these things are happening because I finally read a book I was really excited about.

I have to remember to read while I’m writing. It’s tough sometimes to make time to write, let alone read, but the two go hand in hand.

Which brings me to this post’s actual input choice:

Grave Dance, by Kalayna Price

It only took me two days to read this book. I realized as I was reading it how much of my world in Online Dating for Demons was influenced by this series. My female lead has similar promiscuity issues, there’s a heavy use of glamour, the way magic/supernatural works in the world is similar. The main difference is I use demons instead of faeries.

I didn't mean to steal so blatantly from this author, but her books, while being pretty fluffy paranormal romance, are pretty awesome.

So. Yeah. If you like my story, you will love this series.

And with the help of this book and my writing group, my story will be done by midnight tomorrow, just in time for the end of National Novel Writing Month. I'm taking a long nap after that, and a short hiatus from writing.

A Rose by any other Name...

I am abysmal at coming up with titles and names. I ordinarily add placeholder names and titles in all of my writings, and when it comes time to figure out what to actually name or title things, I really struggle. I think of something clever, and then clever seems obnoxious. I think of something bold, and then it feels pretentious. I think of something bland, and it sticks, but I know nobody will ever want to read it.

So far none of this has really mattered. I know someday it probably will. I hate titles. I will probably call upon you, readers, to help me with names and titles from time to time.

Now is one of those times. My writing group (hi guys!) has decided to put together a website. I am super excited about this. We have ideas for content, we're going to use it to promote our group and it'll be a great tool when National Novel Writing Month rolls around. It'll be a place where we can grow and document our journey and share our insights and knowledge all in one place. We even know what platform we're using and who is going to host it.

It's all ready to go.

Except that we need a name.

We just can't seem to find something we all agree on that isn't already being used or will be buried in a Google search, or so offbeat that nobody will ever search for it. Visibility is our trouble. And consensus.

So. Say you wanted to join a writing group. What kinds of names would be appealing to you?