Falling in and out of love...with a novel

Our wonderful follower, Corey, asked me this question:


Hanna,



I have a very important question on writing. I recently haven't found much time at all(as usual I suppose.)to work on my book. There are times when I feel my book is getting kind of bland, but I just want to skip all the talking and blah stuff to just get to the action, magic, and drama! What can I do to fall back in love with my story?
 
Finding the time to write, first of all, is harder and harder as you go through school - I knew that in Jr High and now in high school, I realize it even more.  With that said, writing can be frustrating when you're A: too tired to write  B: you're not inspired to write, but feel you really need to and C: when you finally think you're going to write and your computer randomly dies and won't turn back on. 
 
Thinking that your book is bland is completely normal - everyone has those feelings that "my book isn't as good as John Verdon's or John Green's.  They just have something that I don't." *there's nothing blah about dialogue - though, Corey, it's my favorite part, really.* However, sometimes skipping unimportant descriptions (or as I call them "filler sections") is acceptable.  Just insert a page-break or begin a new chapter with action or use the ***'s to symbolize time has passed.
 
As for falling back in love with your story...I'm not exactly sure what to say to you here, because right now I'm in the same boat.  I've kinda disliked my story at certain times, but I've never been so out of love with it as I am at the moment.  But the difference between you and me is that I know why I fell out of love with it, to me, it seems you don't really.  Usually when someone says they fell out of love with someone, when they realize why, they have peace-of-mind or sometimes they can even work it out because they realize where the faults were.  I know that at the moment I can't even pull up my novel because of the fact that I started writing "for" my cousin, Jimmy, whom was recently killed in Afghanistan.  In my novel, Jim is basically a character - Hallie's cousin in the Army - and he comes home in one of the books.  I can't stand the thought of writing what was supposed to happen, or what I wanted to happen, with Jim when I know it never will.  Not to mention that Hallie has a recurring dream that Jackson (Jim) is being ambushed in Iraq (which will probably be changed to Afghanistan) and that he...dies in her arms.  I don't think I could even stand to look at the scene, read it, think about it, or anything.  So I'm kind of put-out with the story right now.  I think - I hope - in time I will be able to look at it again, but that's a thing that's always going to have an open wound in my heart and each time I have to read, write, or think about Jackson is going to be like I'm pouring salt water in it. 
 
So, in your case I just ask you to think about why you started writing your novel, why you've kept with it for any amount of time, and why you used to love your characters and story basis - after all, you couldn't have fallen out of love with something if you never had loved it.
 
I'm hoping this helped you, Corey - and anyone else who's struggling with this issue.  Let me know if you have any questions or any other topics you'd like Charlie or I to post about.

~Hanna~

Charlie is back, life sucks, and so forth.

First things first, I'd like to apologize immensely for being away for so long.
In a way, life has been hectic. Yes, staying in your bedroom 24/7 does take a lot out of a person. I wish I could come up with some excuses.

Fake excuse one (1): I have been reading A LOT! (If 3 novels are a lot.. then this is not a lie.)
Face excuse two (2): I have been writing epicness!
Real excuse one (1): I watched an entire season of Glee in one day! Yes, 24 hours of non-stop entertainment and music! Fun,Fun,Fun.

For some reason, I can't write anything I want to stick with for more than a few days, and my plot is getting worse and worse the more I think about it. Talk about fast-paced.... it feels like I have nothing slowing it down, and that is why I hate it so much... or maybe I just have not found the right beginning. (READ HANNA'S POST ON BEGINNING'S.) Take my advice, they are important.

Here is some writing advice, and hopefully, I will take my own advice, too.

One month of thinking and plotting? Right... now get to writing. Forget the "OOOH, lets find pictures of our characters!" and the "OOOOH, lets read more for ideas and better writing!" (even though that is important) just write!

Trust me, I know. Take a look at my characters. I went as far as finding backgrounds, and editing their clothes and hair and eyes and mascara and skin tone on photoshop!
Sad, sad me.



Yes, that is Taylor Swift with long, golden straight hair, and beautiful juicy red lips and white skin, and added wings... Yes, the hair looks fake, I edited it. I am not the best photoshop editor out there... just to make that clear.
She is what my angel looks likes. <_<
Nothing to see here... move along.
Get Writing!

--Charlie, The Cooler Teen.

Thank You

The past two weeks of my life have been indescribably the worst of my life that I can remember. And they are indirectly a result of this day. 9-11.


Nine years ago today two planes were flown into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and one went down in a Pennsylvania field. Hundreds of people were killed, and we still mourn them. This year I didn't have time to put together a tribute, which is something I feel extremely horrible about, but seeing the pictures of that day just makes me want to throw up.

Nine years later we are at war as a result of these attacks. The combat troops have been pulled out of Iraq, but the war still ranges in Afghanistan. I thought that I knew well enough the cost of war, having my cousin, Jimmy, fight twice in Iraq and once in Afghanistan. On August 28th, 2010 I discovered I hadn't even scratched the surface of just how much the war effects me. August 28th, 2010 was the worst day of my life that I can remember. Because on this day Heaven decided that they needed my hero.

I'd like to take a minute to say thank you to each and every person who has lost their life defending our country or in the event of an enemy attack, such as 9-11. As I said in my speech at Jimmy's services, people always say that freedom isn't free, but I never imagined it could cost this much.

As an insufficient thank you - to Jim and to every other fallen hero - I'd like to share with you all a poem I wrote for Jim on September 3, 2010.

"A Heart Forever at Half-Mast"


All gave some
Some gave all.
You fell into the latter
It's not fair -
Though I guess it never is.
So much to live for
So much to die for
When does one out-weigh the other?


Where is the line drawn
Between dutiful service
And inhumane violence?
Where do we reach the point
When we say "No more"
When we agree that enough's enough
And bring you home
And we find a better way to do this?


Heroes fall
And families mourn
We carry on your legacy
And cling tight to your honor.
Is there a time
When we stop crying?
When we can speak your name without pain?
When our hearts are no longer at half-mast?


You are my hero
And so I say
Thank you
For serving
For protecting
For being brave and strong
For being my cousin.


Medals
Articles
People calling night and day
Even a Purple Heart
And we can't even be happy for you.
Yes, we all gave some,
But you gave all.

"The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten"

Sorry

I appologize for the lack of posting.  This past week has been pretty hard on me and my family, therefore I haven't had a lot of time on the computer nor have I had anything I wanted to talk about.  Writing just isn't important right now, so writing writing tips has also taken a back seat.  Hopefully I will be back after the end of this week or shortly there after.  Just please understand that I need some time.  Thank you so much.

~Hanna~