Using sensory stimulation to keep me in character: Sound

In my last two posts, I shared with you how smell and sight help me to stay in "the moment" while I'm perched at my desk, writing. For someone who has limited writing time each week, it's important for me to be as present in my writing as possible. And staying focused is extra difficult when you've been absent from practicing the craft of writing for six months prepping for your wedding, having said wedding, and so on. My creative/writing muscles are a little out of shape, so I'm doing everything I can to help stay inspired, hence this new sensory stimulation experiment.

But smell and sight don't cover all the bases. Sound--music, in this case--really helps me get in the writing mood. A slow whimsical song that I associate with a character experience, let's say someone is falling in love, helps reiterate what that feels like to me, helps me remember my own experience and channel that into how my character is feeling in that moment. A fast tempo with bass and baritones might be an angsty song, perhaps representing a character's bad day or anger toward someone. That's why, for all of my stories, I have a playlist. 

A playlist is something many authors have while writing a book or series, and for good reason. Sensory brain regions house emotional memories. What does that mean? Essentially, sound triggers emotions through past memories so that I can identify with what my character is going through in that moment. 

There's a song I love by Linkin Park called Iridescent. Every single time I hear this song, I think of The Ending Series. For me, Iridescent embodies Dani and Zoe's struggles throughout the four book series, and it will always be that way for me. This song is The Ending Series. 

For Sam's story, Whatever It Takes, every time I hear Bastille's, The Draw, I think Sam's struggle with regret and her past and how she's trying to cope with that. 

Mac's story is no different. There are songs I use as cues to help me really dive deep and feel what my character is supposed to be feeling in that moment. This helps, a lot. Especially if my mood is so different that it's prohibiting my ability to "get in the zone."

Mac's story has many ups and downs in it--family issues, personal growth, sexual tension, comfort in friendship, love, self-discovery and the struggle of letting things go... There are happy, fun moments and those that might make me tear up a little bit. But I have to be able to feel that while writing otherwise it won't come across in my prose. 

Some of Mac's playlist includes (and why they mean so much to me):
Silence Looks Good On You - Rachel Taylor (Mac and Colton)
Stand By You - Rachel Platten (The trio's friendship)
Smoke and Mirrors - Imagine Dragons (Mac's struggles)
Half of Me - Rihanna (The real Machaela Carmichael that not everyone knows)

As you can see, music plays an important part of story writing for me. Generally, I can't get in any groove for writing until I have a hearty collection of songs I can listen to as needed. Music is probably the most important mood-changer that I've found so far. It's essential for me.

Don't forget I'll be leaving this blog site soon and exclusively posting on my new blog, connected to my website for more streamlining ease.  So check it out as soon as you can.

Thanks for checking in!
Linds
xox

Twitter: @LindseyRPogue

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How sensory stimulation helps me write: Visuals

In my last post, I shared with you how scent helps me stay focused in my writing. But smell is only part of my new experiment with sensory stimulation. Visuals have always been my go-to learning tool my entire life--writing life included. Needless to say, I'm a visual learner and I always have been. 

Just to know
I don't retain information well, period. My memory sucks. I have conversations I don't remember being a part of all the time (mostly having to do with my husband telling me things I clearly was only selectively listening to), I'm introduced to people and don't retain their names, people reference gifts I've given them and I'm like, "What? Really? Gosh, I'm so nice." It's horrible not to remember things, really worrisome and troubling at times, actually. But then, who doesn't have a few screws loose? The flip side is that I never forget a face, even if I don't remember their names. I can name a movie I've only seen once just by hearing one line of a sentence, no visual assistance required because apparently I've retained it all the first time I watched it. I remember historical happenings not because I read them or someone explained them to me--that all goes into my brain and disappears a second later. I remember and love history that I can see. I watch documentaries and visit museums and reference old photos. So it would make sense that visuals are helpful at all stages during the writing process.

The first step
This is my story Pinterest board that I use before I start writing. My storyboard helps me to gather images that set the framework for my story. It allows me space to collect all the images I attribute to my character, their bedroom colors, the setting, the clothes they wear, different physical attributes I want to keep in mind, and so on. This is what gets the whole processes started.

While I'm writing
I use Scrivener when I'm organizing my chapters and writing my first drafts. The reason I appreciate this program is because I can have the manuscript and any photo or reference material I want side by side while writing. During the first draft phase, I'm generally still getting to know my characters so this helps me remember the weather, locations, research I found, etc. 

Throughout the writing process
This is a story notebook, which I use throughout the entire writing process. I use it for brainstorming and near-the-end editing. I have a notebook for every story, and it contains cut-outs, drawings, charts, sticky notes, lists, research, and just about everything in between. All of which I carry around with me when I leave town in case I get a brilliant idea, and I have it open every time I'm writing.

So, now you know why visual aids are so important for me in the writing process. Next time I'll share with you what other ways I indulge my sense while writing to keep myself in "the zone."

Linds

xox

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And so it begins... Chapter One.

As most of you know, my life has been a bit of a whirlwind--a wonderfully epic whirlwind, but a whirlwind nonetheless--these past six months. From releasing the final Ending Series book, Before The Dawn, in November, followed by the holidays and the release of book one, Whatever It Takes, in my new series, to getting married and travelling from February through April, it's been a crazy-ass ride. But now, it's time to get down and dirty and finally start writing book two, Nothing But Trouble.

The goal is to get this book out before Christmas, and I've picked an unofficial date in December, which I'll reveal once I've made more progress on the manuscript. For now, let the creativity flow, the voices speak, and the endless nights and nail-biting days begin.

Here I go....

Book Two, Nothing But Trouble

Gearing up for Nothing But Trouble, Book #2

I've been lost in a world of wedding celebrations and travelling and family visits since, well, it seems like a year now. BUT starting at the end of this month, no more parties, no more planning, only writing and getting back into the author swing of things. I'M SO EXCITED!

When you're an author, not writing is VERY difficult. You live and breathe your characters, they mind-chat with you and they commandeer your thoughts at the most inconvenient times--when you're working, doing chores, when you should be sleeping, you name it. So not having an outlet to get your thoughts down on paper is SO DISTRACTING!

To be able to use my writing time to actually start writing again is something that will be both challenging and liberating. Challenging because when you stop writing, or at least when I stop writing, I get out the habit and find myself staring blankly at a screen, uncertain where to start. Liberating because there isn't that gnawing sense of "you should be" and "I really want to be" going on underneath everything else you're trying to accomplish.

So, again, I'm super stoked that after April 24th my life will be somewhat back to normal. And because I'm so excited, I've snuck in some outlining this week, ahead of schedule. Mac and Colton and their twitterpation are SOOOO close to being explored, it's making me giddy. Until then though....

Happy Reading!
(p.s. you know it's close to happening when I start my new story notebook. ;)

Linds
xoxo

Twitter: @LindseyRPogue

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A little insight - Hobbiton - My Journey into The Shire

****PLEASE NOTE: This is an old post. I no longer post on this blog. For more information, to visit my new blog, or to contact me, visit HERE****

Greetings, all!

As some of you might already know, I'm a Tolkien fan, a nerd in general, and I love nature and adventure. So, my husband and myself set off on a journey of our own. If you follow me on FB, you probably noticed hat I've been MIA recently due to my wedding adventures in New Zealand. Hubs and I have been together for ten years, engaged for two, and we finally tied the knot!

We decided to go to NZ for many reasons, but one of my key reasons was because I've seen some AMAZING footage and landscape of the country in the LOTR and Hobbit movies. So, I wanted to see those jagged, misty mountains, the rolling green hills, and the rushing blue waters for myself. So we did!

Fun facts about Tolkien's series:

• Peter Jackson is a New Zealander himself, which is why it was so perfect for him to film there
• The Shire was built on a piece of farmland that belongs to the Alexander family. When location scouts were searching for a place with "green hills and a large tree by a lake" they found the sheep farmer's place. The scout knocked on the guy's door and said, "I'd like to talk to you about filming a movie on your property. "I'm watching Rugby," the guy said. The scout decided to go exploring on his own, promising not to disturb the man's sheep, per his request. 
• There are over 100 locations in New Zealand that were used for filming
• Peter Jackson's contribution to the rural country of NZ was $20M just for what he paid to film there, so imagine what he's done for their economy since the movies were released. I'll give you a hint, he's now known as Sir Peter Jackson.

Below is a sort of photo journal if you will of my adventures--some fun facts I learned about the movies, about the land, and a little insight into how special this wedding adventure was for us. I hope you enjoy! (Photo credit: me)

Milford Sound, what I call "The Land of The Lost." I expected
 to hear King Kong off in the distance. This is the countryside where they filled the
"misty mountains" footage for the movies Hobbit movies.

This is also Milford Sound, so you can see why it's so easy to get misty mountain footage.
This is the most epically beautiful location I've ever been to. It truly felt magical.
If it rains, waterfalls appear pouring down the mountains out of nowhere.

This is Tongariro National Park, and in the far-off distance is Mordor aka Mount Doom 

Ruakuri Cave is so majestic (and apparently haunted, at least we were told).
We did a two-hour tour, learned the history, heard the ghost stories,
and learned that this is the location where Andy Serkis recorded Gollum's voice.

I got to try on Gandolf's hat in Hobbiton, though it was a tad small :)

There were originally over 30 Hobbit holes built in Hobbiton,
though they were only ever the facades. All interior filming was done in a 
different set that was built in Wellington, New Zealand.
Right after they were finished filming the LOTR trilogy,
they began tearing the Hobbit holes down and just as they 
were getting to the 17th one, they were told to cease demolition.
Because LOTR was such a hit, crews had to rebuild what they'd torn down so
 that they could start charging for tours, as locals were showing up 
on their own accord to see where in their village the movie had been filmed. 
It was one of the best decisions they'd ever made.

This is a view of the Shire from Baggins End. They say that you can tell the status and wealth
of a Hobbit based on the location of their Hobbit hole and the number of windows they have.
Bilbo's place is on the very top of the hill and has the most windows :)

The LOTR franchise is all about perception--what Peter Jackson wants you to see.
Door sizes are no exception when it comes to Gandolf scenes in the Shire.

Bilbo and Frodo's place happily situated at the very top of the hill. I'd like to
point our that the tree on top is "real fake," meaning it's a real tree that
wasn't very full so they incorporated fake branches and leaves as well.
Such a leaf that I later found :)

Dennis is a novice beer maker, at least as a hobby, so I asked him to make some of the famous
 Hobbit Ale (particularly the Cider) next time. SO good! After all, that's all Pippin and Merry
sing about throughout the movies, isn't it?

The first "Craigslist" if you will. Jams, jellies, missing livestock...

The Green Dragon. Though only the facade was used in the movie,
 it's now visitor ready and their ale is quite delightful. Totally awesome!
You can walk through the pub and see "old" ledgers and sketched Hobbit portraits, etc.
Pretty cool.

Leaf from said "real fake" tree. They're pretty rare to fall off,
so the fact that we found one is kind of cool!
So, here you go, a real fake oak leaf!
This was me finding it again in my backpack in the airport on the way home.

Hobbiton or Green Dragon pub? Pub it is!

Bilbo's place! And just to know, behind each door is concrete and stone.
The doors open enough to actually open, but there is absolutely nothing inside,
though the lights in the windows and the lace curtains suggest otherwise.

The Remarkables, aka the Misty Mountains,
everpresent scenery in the Hobbit movies. (Queenstown, NZ)

I guess that's it for now. I don't want to bore you, but hopefully this gives you a fun little insight into the magical world and staggering landscapes of New Zealand.