The Adventure of Old Stories

I have been writing pretty much ever since I learned the alphabet. So you can imagine just how many stories have piled up over the years. I have two large plastic bags filled to the max with random and scattered papers, stuffed hidden away in my closet.

This is sad to admit, but if there ever was a fire, I would probably grab those bags first, then think about hightailing it out of there. There's too many memories and pieces of me that I wouldn't be able to replace.

Late last night I got the urge to read some of my old stories. After sitting in my closet, rummaging through what was sure to be about a billion papers, I finally found a novel I had written when I was just thirteen years old.

Excitement raced over me when I held that story I hadn't seen in seven years. I scrambled out of my messy, paper covered closet and feverishly began to read. What I thought would be an entertaining stroll down Memory Lane, turned out to be a cringing hike up Bad Writing Mountain.

After reading the first paragraph I found myself shaking my head at my own writing. I was very thirteen. And to make matters worse, I was a thirteen year old who apparently thought she knew the ways of the world like the back of her hand.

The story line jumped around from here to there, the characters didn't have much depth to them, and my facts were all way off. I found myself looking over my shoulder, making sure no one was around to get a peek at this little story. If anyone had gotten a glimpse of this rushed novel I would have been so embarrassed that my face would have permanently remained red.

But the thing is...even with all the rushed story lines, boring characters and bad grammar, I still found that I was enjoying myself. Even though my writing wasn't the best it could be, it undeniably had a lot of heart in it. It had a charming simplicity to it, reminding me of the young girl who looked at the world through rose colored glasses, never allowing the negativity of life to settle into my little world.

Suddenly I felt like I was thirteen again, and was back in my cozy little computer room, typing happily away with the summer sun streaming in through my window. The sounds of 1940's Big Bands serenading me in the background, filling my heart with inspiration and a love for writing.

It doesn't matter that this story didn't turn out to be a classic like The Great Gatsby. It made my heart soar when I was writing it, and that's what is the most important thing.

I realized that I have almost lost that simple charm that used to paint itself across the pages of my stories, giving it a depth I wasn't even aware of. Sometimes I get too caught up in writing a well written story that I forget about that young girl who had the key to writing a beautiful story. Put every last inch of your heart into it.

Funny how the title of that old novel of mine is All My Heart. It's like I knew :)

Enough rambling for now!

The Adventure to Inspiration Part 1

Oh, inspiration! Come out, come out, wherever you are!
I have a love/hate relationship with inspiration. Sometimes it will give me the best story ideas, or it will refuse to come visit me. It seems like there is no in between. When my inspiration tank is almost on empty I like to try a few things.
The first thing on my list of inspiration ideas is I like to watch some choice movies. Movies make me way too happy. I am notorious for having movie marathons with my friends. So of course there are some movies out there that make me inspired to start writing,

One of these movies is Midnight in Paris.
This movie is all about Paris.
Paris in the 1920's.
Paris and the 1920's. Two things, by themselves, can make my heart skip a beat. But put them together and I am in full swoon mode. Paris is dripping with charm. It just might be the prettiest and classiest of all the cities in the world. This movie never fails to get my inspiration going because it's no secret that I was born in the wrong time. I should have been with those Flappers doing the Charleston. Also every thing within me wants to travel. Plus, this movie has some of the greatest writers known to mankind. Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Who doesnt want to spend an hour and a half in the company of some of America's finest writers in one of the most beautiful cities in the world?

I first fell in love with Midnight in Paris within the first few minutes of the film. And you will see why. If this doesn't inspire you, I don't know what will.

The next movie on my inspiration list is none other than... Singin' In the Rain!
Arguably the best musical the world has ever seen. It is also set in the 1920's...I'm sensing a pattern here. This film has the charismatic Gene Kelly. The scene where Gene Kelly dances and sings in the rain, represents how love should be. So happy that it could be the stormiest of nights and you would think the sun is shining. This song makes my old fashioned heart sing!

I could go on about the movies that inspire me, but I won't because I don't think you all have the rest of your lives to hear me ramble on about amazing movies. So in conclusion I will leave you with a clip of a Disney movie. Disney is really the only way to go. Walt Disney is the king of imagination and creativity. All of his movies inspire me and make me smile the entire time I'm watching them. Especially during this scene...

Enough rambling for now!

Germany Adventure

               
                                                   
The first hint about my novel that I'm working on! Half of my book is set in...Good ol' Germany!

Germany is a breathtaking and beautiful country. Germany is famous for many things, such as, the birthplace of Albert Einstein, the astounding Neuschwanstein Castle (Fun Fact for the day: Walt Disney modeled Sleeping Beauty's castle off of the Neuschwanstein). However, my personal favorite thing about Germany, is it is where The Brothers Grimm traveled near and far, here and there, up and down, writing down stories that are now our beloved fairy tales. (Thank you boys!)

                                (The Neuschwanstein Castle. This is what I call a vacation home.)


 I don't think I realized at first what exactly I had done to myself. I was way too caught up in the excitement of writing a new story. How am I supposed to write a novel that takes a place in a country I have never been to. The closest encounter I have ever had with Germany is I sat by a girl, who had just moved from Germany, in my American history class in high school. If only I knew what I know now. I would have asked her every question under the moon about Germany. Of course, I don't think I would have gotten very far. I would have been too distracted by how cool her accent sounded.

And then I had another lightbulb go off when I realized that not only is my knowledge about this country limited, but I know nothing of their language! Once again the closest encounter I have with the German language is my cousin who took German for three years in high school (Hi Jeffy).

So I took matters into my own hands and actually sent an e-mail to the tourism center of the town where my novel is set. I have never done so much research for a story before. Not only did I send an e-mail across the world, but I have poured over my computer for hours upon hours trying to expand my horizons for my story. I'm sure my Dad wishes I put this much effort into my math homework (Sorry Dad). 

This really is a new adventure for me. I have always been obsessed with whatever story I am working on. But I have never tried to track down a tourism center, in hopes they will answer some of my questions. I guess what I have truly realized, more so than the realization of the daunting task of setting my novel in a country I have never personally laid eyes on, is that this novel is different than all the rest. And more importantly, I am really spreading my wings as a writer. Hmmm... spreading my wings... maybe that's why my parents named me Robyn ;)

Enough rambling for now!

My Adventure in Talking to My Favorite Author

Once upon a time I was blissfully browsing through the bookshelves of Borders (RIP Borders) when I stumbled upon a book. Now I know our parents tell us to never judge a book by its cover, but I simply had to this one time. Of course at the time I was a young teenager and the good looking man on the cover, reeled me in, but the author is what made me stay. After I was done praising the cover, I opened the book and within the first paragraph I was hooked and have stayed that way for over five years now. Not just on that one particular book but by everything that one author, Julie Lessman, has written.

Her books have in many ways inspired not only my writing, but my personal life and lives around me. So one day after working up enough courage I decided to e-mail her and tell her just how much her books have blessed me. 

And what do you know, the very next day she e-mailed me back. It's not every day you see an e-mail from one of your favorite authors in your inbox. But I didn't waste any time by trying to take that moment in. I opened that e-mail so fast, lightning would have been jealous.

I don't think I have ever received such a nice e-mail in my life. She was very humble and kind, and without a doubt I know, she is a kindred spirit. I really admire how she takes the time to talk to her readers. One day if I am ever blessed to get published, I hope to be like this favorite author of mine. Ever-thankful and always humble.

If any of you are wondering just who exactly this woman is and what her books are like I suggest you go check out her website. www.julielessman. com

I hope you like her books as much as I do, and if you do, then I am just pre-warning you that you will get no sleep while you are reading her books. These are definitely the kinds of books you stay up until five in the morning to finish.

Enough rambling for now!

Adventurous Imaginations

I have a philosophy about life. That it is one thrilling adventure.

Especially when you are a writer.

Us writers stumble across adventures almost every time we walk out our front door. Or if I'm being honest, adventure can find us even when we are lazily sitting on our couches, eating a bag of Doritos, blankly watching our favorite T.V. shows. In my household, my family and I would most likely be watching Duck Dynasty (Shout out to Si) or Big Bang Theory. 

It might strike some of you odd, or even unbelievable that writers could find adventure sitting in their homes doing absolutely nothing. And I must admit it does seem rather far-fetched. 

But that's what makes being a writer so completely wonderful. Writers don't necessarily have to go out and hang glide off a steep cliff or go deep into the grasslands of Africa and be chased by a fierce and hungry lion to have an adventure. 

Don't get me wrong, that certainly sounds like an exhilarating way to spend your time. However, if you happen to be one of those individuals who don't want to find themselves staring into the amber eyes of lion, getting all close and personal, then trust me when I say that adventure can be found in the safety of a home.

We are able to experience all life has to offer because of a little thing that is most commonly known as an imagination.

God gave writers an amazing imagination that can take them to the four corners of the world, across the seven seas, and maybe even to the moon if we feel the urge to go, without ever having taken a step outside. 

I firmly believe that God gave us such insane imaginations so that writers can write with vivid details so that we can sweep our readers off on a wild ride so that they truly feel they are along for the ride with our characters. 

In fact, I recall telling my beautiful Mediterranean looking sister one day (shout out to Rachel) that the reason I have such an untamable imagination that refuses to stay calm and realistic is because I am a writer and can therefore dream and see clearly all the places I wish to see but can't. And it also helps my readers so they can picture everything I am writing as well. 

Like I was saying before, adventure can come and claim us when we are least expecting it, and that's usually the best kind of adventure. We could be relaxing on our couch with our family laughing at Uncle Si's antics from Duck Dynasty when our imagination will break free from us and we will find ourselves in the middle of an adventure.

Anything and everything can inspire our imaginations, which will therefore inspire a story. So, for my writers out there...always be on the look out for adventure. It could be closer than you think.

Life is still a thrilling adventure, whether you are a writer, reader, or run like the wind away from anything resembling a book. Just be open to greeting your adventure whatever it may be. It could be running for your life from a lion or it could be that your imagination will spring to life and take you off on a crazy whirlwind adventure.

Enough rambling for now!

A Writer's Adventure of Trying to Sleep.

As most writers know, inspiration is a finicky thing. Inspiration never pays us a visit when we need it most. Instead it will wait for the most imperfect moment to come knocking on our door. In my case, inspiration usually comes to call extremely late at night when I should be snug in my bed and happily off in dreamland. It never fails that almost every night I will snuggle into my warm bed and just as I get comfortable, the most brilliant ideas I have ever thought of in my entire life (okay... maybe not that bad) will come bounding into my head, chasing away any thought of sleep.
It can be quite aggravating I assure you. 
So there I am. Laying in bed watching new and exciting scenes of my novel flash across my eyes. My heart will be literally pounding from all of the inspiration rushing through my veins. This will go on for several minutes until I realize I am faced with a dilemma.
This dilemma is called Do-I-Get-Out-Of-Bed-To-Write-All-This-Down-Or-Stay-Where-I-Am-Praying-I-Will-Remember-All-Of-This-In-The-Morning.
More often than not, I'm sorry to say, I end up going with the option of praying I will remember all of the details in the morning. And I'm even sorrier to say that that option usually never works out for me.
As soon as I wake up, my first few thoughts will be about my story and I will lay there staring at the wall, racking my brain to remember every little detail I came up with just hours before. And when I find that I cannot, I solemnly comfort myself, telling myself that those ideas probably weren't all that brilliant to begin with. 
Such is the life of a writer. 
And more importantly such is the adventure of an aspiring author trying to get some sleep. 

Enough rambling for now!