Removing the Block
Wow.
That’s all I have to say. Investing in this journal/pen and taking advantage of my ideal writing environment is really working. I’ve written a lot these past few days. And yes, that includes pieces of fanfics. I managed to spin out a bit of a rewrite of the first section of Chapter Two of RoKM. FINALLY. And a few sentences further of Philia. I tell ya, writer’s block has gone down the drain these days. Really hoping it keeps up, I rather like how this has been going. I’ve filled 14 pages of my journal in three days… which is more than several month’s worth used to be. I can only hope it improves from here.
On Teeny-Tiny Writing Details
This weekend I have discovered the importance of the details when it comes to writing.
And no, I’m not talking about details in the writing itself. I figured that out a LOOOOONG time ago.
I’m talking about details of writing environments and the tools used. I have discovered that little things can make a HUGE difference.
The nice weather led me to do a little poking out and about this weekend. And I spend a good part of it thinking about my writing. I went down to the bookstore and picked me up a nice journal. The notebook I’d previously been using was… much too small. Great for carrying around, insanely difficult to write in. So I bought a new one, a bigger one, still easy to carry around but not too small either. Lines for easier writing. At first I thought no lines would be better for me, but I need a little structure. Lines help.
Next order of business: A pen. I settled on a blue one. Not black. Blue. Shocking for me. But I felt a blue pen might be a good idea. Spend a while testing out pens with blue ink, scribbling all over notepads provided as I did so. Judged on feel, on look, on color, on how smooth it wrote, on how quick the ink dried. EVERYTHING. Finally settled on one I liked, so I went to pay for my journal and pen.
With those in hand, my next order of business was to find someplace to write. I went to my favorite spot on the university campus, chose a bench, sat down, and pulled out my new pen and journal.
And wrote. And wrote. And WROTE.
I couldn’t stop. Well, I did, but not after I’d gone four pages solid in my journal. And I have small handwriting.
Bottom line, I’ve discovered how important the details are. I write better in natural lighting, either outdoors or in rooms with big windows. Blue ink works better for me than black, it stands out a bit more against the page and lines ON the page. The journal’s the right size for me, not too big to be hard to carry around and not so small it’s hard to write in anytime, anywhere. Little things like that are IMMENSELY important. I’ve written more in it these past two days than I did for months at a time before.
Next attempt: Look for good INDOOR writing locales. There’s a Starbucks down the street that looks promising… 
Full Year
One year ago from yesterday, I posted my very first fanfic.
Now, one year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 366 days, however you wanna look at it, I’m looking back on it all. I’ve got 13 pieces posted… some complete, some not, some oneshots and some multichaptered stuff, and more on my future plate.
And… wow. I’ve come a long way.
Looking back on my older stuff, it’s really neat to see how far I’ve come as a writer since I started out. I’ve still got a lot to learn and a long way to go, but it’s cool to see the progress I’ve made up to this point. I still can’t believe it’s been a full year… though that might explain the urges I’ve had to get another Narnian poem worked out somehow. 
In other news, I haven’t written much lately at all. Stupid writer’s block. Not really much to update on, just thought it’d be nice to have a one-year-at-fanficing post.
