How “The Hunger Games” should motivate the writer you

Today “The Hunger Games” hits theaters. Heck, many of us saw it last night at midnight and won’t be reading this blog post until much later after they wake up! I’m being a good wife and waiting to see it tonight with my husband so this post is spoiler free.

I love seeing book to film adoptions because I leave the theater feeling so energized. Yes, I like the “Twilight” movies, I love “Harry Potter” and I’m really looking forward to seeing “The Hunger Games” but my excitement isn’t because of the movies it’s because those movies, those books once were only a thought. They all started off with their authors sitting in front a blank computer screen.

Every story comes from a simple thought no matter how complex the plot and sub plots turn out to be. As I write, it’s the endless possibilities that excite me and keep me pushing through the hard times. Yesterday my daughter woke up on the wrong side of the crib. It rained all day so Oscar (the dog) was naturally upset and even Diamond and Jedi (the bunnies) were restless and just plain annoying. It was a very bad writing day. After everyone went to sleep I stayed up and worked. I revised this blog post, revised another chapter in my YA and wrote my goal of 2,000 words in my middle grade project. Yes, I was up pretty late but it’s the possibility that someday readers may be waiting to read my work that keeps me going.

Most authors don’t get movie deals. I’m not setting my goals to be unrealistic (I still can dream though) but someday I hope to have readers just as excited about my characters as I am. I want to share the worlds I have created with the world and because of such a possibility and goal I keep writing.

“The Hunger Games” began with a blank page. It once was an idea in Suzanne Collins’ head. It wasn’t always a polished manuscript or New York Bestseller. Anyone’s work can get there. The possibilities are endless, exciting and motivating.

How do you keep your dreams and possibilities in sight when you have a bad day?

If you love to follow popular young adult movie coverage Examiner.com has some great columns for you.

The Mortal Instruments Examiner: Where I cover all things related to Cassandra Clare’s series’ The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and The Dark Artifices

You can also follow:

The Hunger Games Examiner

The Twilight Examiner

Divergent Examiner

Vampire Diaries Examiner

All of these columns are perfect for up to date and accurate coverage on the popular young adult series that you love.

Novel Novice is another great site that covers all things young adult with an educational spin to it.

Connecting the dots: What do you see?

This week the world lost Steve Jobs, a pioneer in business, technology and philosophy. Most people probably think of Apple at the mention of his name, I know that I did. I mean, without him we wouldn’t have the iPhone, iPod, Mac, iPad, Pixar and much more in the form that they exist today. However, after watching his commencement speech that he delivered to the Stanford graduating class of 2005 I learned that Mr. Jobs was more then the technologically savvy genius and entrepreneur master that he was. There was even more to him then that (I know, was he Tony Stark in disguise?) Steve Jobs was a motivator even before he could motivate others. He motivated himself to become someone and make something special.

The news channels and morning shows have been frequently airing the attached speech. It is only fifteen minutes long and if you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it. I loved what he had to say about connecting the dots and connecting them looking backwards. If you would have asked me five years ago that I would be working from home. That I would have turned my once on-the-side freelance writing business on the side and that I was published in non-fiction, lecturing and working towards being published in fiction, I would have laughed. But now connecting my dot backwards everything in my life fits to bring me right where I am today. Everything makes perfect sense. From the classes I took in college to every job I’ve held. My time in high school of dancing professionally and teaching even fits into where I am today, I just thought it was fun and paid for my computer at the time. But it was that computer that I began writing on and won my first writing contest with a short story written on its keys. Now my current WIP is based off that Scholastic award-wining story.

As Jobs said, “connect the dots looking backwards.” It’s amazing how so many aspects of my life have led me to writing and I couldn’t be happier to be sitting at my desk in my at-home-office in an Arkansas forest. When I was in high school, my “five year plan” would have been to be working for a prestigious public relations firm in New York City after college. I did that. I interned for Rubenstein and Associates and loved my experience but I wouldn’t change the opportunity that I have now to work on being the author I will be while raising my beautiful baby girl with my wonderful husband.

My 15-month-old loves my iPhone and my Mac Book Pro. She Skypes her Grandfather in Saudi Arabia and her other Grandparents in Texas through my laptop. Technology made possible (the Mac Book not Skype) thanks to Steve Jobs. Mr. Jobs also greatly understood writers and their unique computer needs and desires, for this I am personally grateful. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and the entire Apple corporate family as well.

What do you see when you connect the dots looking backwards?

For books, upcoming classes and speaking engagements visit www.NatalieCMarkey.com

A percentage of the profits from Markey’s ‘Caring for Your Special Needs Dog’ go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

Blog Mash-up:

How Life Changes our Outlining Approach by author Natalie C. Markey- I’m guest blogging at Elizabeth Sogard’s blog

Are Writers Entrepreneurs? By author Jami Gold

The Right Way, The Wrong Way, The Smart Way by author Kristen Lamb

Give me a break! And it’s good for my writing!

As a writer I can relate to that constant nagging pull to keep writing and meet that writing goal. However, sometimes the best thing for your writing is to just take a break. As I’ve said before, there is no such thing as writer’s block. When a scene proves to be a challenge, just walk away from it. Even if it is just a little while. Any break, no matter how short it may be can help the quality of your writing and manuscript.

For writing moms, this advice is very easy to follow. When I feel like I’ve hit a dead end or I’m struggling with a scene, I take a break and play with my daughter. This accomplishes two important things. First, I get to play with the most beautiful little girl in the world. Secondly, it gets my mind off that troublesome scene. There is such a thing as working too hard. It’s easy to get so focused in work but really a break can do wonders for your work and for your life.

Rewards are also a great way to celebrate reaching a goal. I love rewards! I rarely go over my writing goal because I don’t want to overwork myself. Instead, I treat myself to an hour of reading a book of my choice.

What do you do for a writing break? Do you give yourself a reward when you’ve reached a goal?

Announcements:

I will be hosting a live webinar on September 26 6:30-8 PDT with Farm Dogs USA titled ‘Caring for Special Needs Dogs.’ My lecture will be based off my book, ‘Caring for Your Special Needs Dog’ along with new research. Click here for more information.

This October I’ll be teaching ‘Writing Moms: How to do it all without losing your mind’ with Who Dares Wins Publishing’s Write It Forward Workshops. Click here to sign up or for more information.

Blog Mash-ups:

Author and social media expert Kristen Lamb’s “The WANA Theory of Book Economics: Why Traditional Marketing Doesn’t Sell Books.”

Pitch University’s Diane Holmes’ “Using Major Turning Points: Pacing Advice By Christopher Vogler” And FYI I’m currently reading his book, “The Writer’s Journey” and loving it!

Some motivation from author Candace Havens off author Anna DeStefano’s blog, How We Write Wednesdays.