journaling

Posted on January 16, 2024 by L. M. Montes

Keeping a journal is important when writing a book. I have one for each book I’ve written. How do they help? They’re a great place to write down your ideas for your story, characters, setting, random thoughts and ideas, and much more. When you get stuck, and you will, you can refer back to it for help in getting those gears running smoothly again.

Some of you might think this information is rather obvious. To a seasoned writer, it is. But those of you who may be starting out will find this helpful. At some point the ideas you’re going to have about your story will come smashing down on your brain, and you will want to put them somewhere. A journal will help.

Writing

Writing Prompts

Posted on October 21, 2021October 21, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Hi Everybody. Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or Good Evening depending on the part of the world you are in. I hope your day is going well, and I wish you many blessings and peace. Please find listed below a list of writing prompts. Whether you are writing a short story or a book, or if you are looking for something to write in your journal, this list should help you.

“Did you see this? Where did it come from?” asked Paul.
I took my usual walk in the woods. The quiet and hush of the forest cleared my mind. But…..
Jade grabbed her keys and stormed out the door.
“For get it. I said you…..”
We clinked our glasses together and stared into the other’s eyes while we sipped our Chardonnay. But little did Jack know…..
Suzy hugged her teddy bear and huddled close to her mother.
“Grab the hotdogs out of the refrigerator, would you? The grill is almost ready and…..”
“Ok, hold that pose. Hold it. Hold it. Ok now. Walk over…..”
The rowboat rocked and swayed, as the waves juggled it side to side.
Walking through the mown grass, I plucked petals from the yellow rose.
“Your arms are comfortable. I wish to never move,” cooed Katie.
“It’s ok. You’re safe now,” whispered John.
His chance of winning was slim, but he had to try.
“What do you want from me?” asked Millie.
“I think just found…”
“It’s your choice,” she shrugged.

Writing

Journaling

Posted on October 9, 2021October 8, 2021 by L. M. Montes

What helps you to keep your writing ideas fresh? Do you have a bulletin board you pin them on? A three ring binder with sections for different types of ideas? Perhaps you have a journal you write in daily. If you do any of these, continue reading. Below are some ideas to chew on for writing ideas.

What is the worst nightmare you’ve ever had?
How would someone else describe you?
Describe your ideal getaway.
If you could have three things, what would they be? Why?
How can some of the trials and tribulations you’ve been through turn into something good/blessings?
What are 3 or 4 things you are grateful for?
Describe your favorite season if you were to combine two of them together.
If you could go anywhere in the past, where/when would you go? Why?
Describe your ideal day.
Write down three of your favorite things, and create a cartoon scenario using them.
What does happiness mean to you?
How have you changed in the last 5 years?
Write about your hobby.
Complete this sentence. I was walking in the forest when…..
What distractions are keeping you from being productive?
How do you spend your Sundays?

Writing

Write the Good Write

Posted on June 14, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Write the Good Write

Writing

Snippets

Posted on May 26, 2021May 24, 2021 by L. M. Montes

When you’re writing, whether it’s a short story, a novel, or a poem, do you pay attention to what is going on around you when you aren’t writing? Sometimes I’ll write down what I hear/see in my journal for later use and sometimes I don’t. Most times I remember. I know what you must be thinking. “How can you remember all that?” Well, I don’t. It isn’t until I’m writing a scene, and what I’m writing triggers a memory of something I saw or heard, then if it fits the scene, I use it. But, most often it’s only snippets of a conversation or something I saw that I end up using. Journals are a wonderful thing though and can contain a treasure trove of useful info. Take what you can from real life and mold it like clay.

The pictures below of are my journal for my novel The Triunix of Time. As you can see from the warn tabs and such, it’s been used quite a bit.

Writing

The Words We Fight With

Posted on April 1, 2021 by L. M. Montes

Today as I was climbing the steps up to my apartment, I happened to notice two yellow jackets fighting on one of the steps. I mean they were going full force. I stood there and watched them for a minute. Eventually, they parted about a centimeter, but their legs were still going at it. No, I didn’t stomp on them. They weren’t bothering me; just each other.

Isn’t it like that when we write sometimes? We fight like mad trying to find the right words to use in our writing projects. Just when we think we’ve found the right words, we back up, re-read it with our mind still fighting with the idea, ‘Did I get it right this time? Did I not? How do I know?’ Yes, we all have writing days like that. The answer is to tough it out. Leave your work and go back to it a day or two later. If you still don’t like it, continue fighting to get it the way you want it. Or, you can ask advice from someone else.

Stick with it. Don’t let that fight get you down. You can do it.

Fiction

People Watching

Posted on October 28, 2019 by L. M. Montes

I know what you’re thinking, “A picture is worth 1000 words”. Well yes, it is. But go that one step further. Go inside the picture. In other words look at it in real time. Sit on a park bench or on the beach or wherever you feel most comfortable, and watch people. Throw some what if scenarios around in your head and make up stories about who you are observing based on what they are doing. If you’re not within earshot of the conversation, make one up. Have a journal with you to jot down your ideas. You would be surprised how much this exercise awakens your creative side.

All at once the ideas start to flow. An Idea enters that river of creativity. It picks up speed as the current of thoughts continue to take it down river. It picks up more ideas as it flows along. A mile or two down river you have something BIG, HUGE even. All at once your pen is flowing and you can’t stop. The current has taken you and there is no turning back. One plot twist leads to another and you now come to a fork in the river. Which one do you take? Hmmmmm. You decide to take all of them by making each one a subplot. Aha!!! Now you have story that will take your reader on a spellbinding journey.