Writing Prompt #74

Posted in Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

I’ve been fairly lackadaisical in my blogging recently. I’ve been relying on short posts, in part, because I’ve been rewriting my pilot. My goal was to complete it by Saturday, which I did, so yay!

I have lots of new things to share, so I’ll be better about putting things of interest here, and not just fluff. 😉

This week’s Writing Prompt, I suppose, could be a running theme that honors Women’s History Month. I was looking for an image of an empowered woman, and this one struck me. What do you think?

Valkyrie

Are you inspired?

Happy Writing!

2Mar2016

Writing Prompt #73

Posted in Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

As I scrolled through the thousands of images I have on Pinterest, I found that none of them really spoke to me today in the way of a writing prompt. Then I saw this:

AmIMoreThanYouBargainedFor

As I continue to let my mind wander in a hundred different directions about the various plots and intricacies that I never could have imagined when I first developed this idea for my pilot, I can definitely see my protagonist saying this, probably before the end of season one.

So I will take on the challenge. Who’s with me?

Happy Writing!

1Mar2016

Quote of the Week

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

I have mixed feelings about this week’s quote:

WorkHardinSilence

I like it, but it makes me think. Creatives, in general, often create in solitude. There are many opportunities for collaboration, but when we begin our artistic path, it’s usually just us and our work.

Social media allows creatives a number of avenues to boast of their accomplishments, no matter how great or small, and this, to me, seems a ploy to seek outside encouragement and gratification even if it’s not quite warranted.

This quote also makes me wonder how long we should “suffer in silence”? The creative path benefits, I believe, from networking with others who understand; mentors who have come before and have knowledge and experience and the beginners who may see the ever-changing world differently. We all benefit from both youth and experience.

I’ve been rewriting the space pilot, and because I love the work, I don’t find that it’s “hard”. Obviously, some days are more difficult than others, but when you find something you love, the ‘hard’ in hard work, I don’t believe means the same thing anymore.

Maybe this quote is similar to the old adage, “let your work speak for itself”.

What do you think about this week’s quote? I’d love to hear your ideas and interpretation.

Have a great week!

*I don’t think this piece could have been written any more disjointed. It’s how my mind was bouncing between ideas, and that seems to have translated directly to the page…enjoy. 😉

24Feb2016

Writing Prompt #72

Posted in Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

As I continue my week of self-indulgence, this week’s Writing Prompt is an image I recently discovered, and immediately loved, that falls into a certain obsession category. So I’m really just using my birthday as an excuse to post swoon-worthy Dragon Age visuals.

Exhibit B:

Cullen&Warden

I quickly made this the image on my phone’s lock screen, and it’s stirring ideas for the continuation of my Dragon Age fanfic. Squee!

I can’t look at it and see anything other than what it is, but what do you see? Are you inspired?

Happy Writing!

*I’ve tried finding the source of this image, in part to give them credit, but also to send them a huge thank you!

22Feb2016

Quote Monday

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

My birthday was sort of a bust this year so I’ve decided to indulge, wherever and whenever I can, until the end of the month. Yes, this is a forewarning that my blog may be transformed into a steady stream of my favorite things for at least 7 more days. 😉

Exhibit A: this week’s quote. I used it on my university graduation announcements, and it’s something I need to remind myself of, often.

GoConfidently

Have a wonderful week, my friends!

16Feb2016

Quote of the Week

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

As writers, and creatives, in general, we tend to overthink every. little. thing. We can create an entire novel or screenplay in our minds, so it’s no wonder that we are capable of making great leaps with just a tidbit of information.

We see the world differently, and that’s a good thing. We also tend to be extremely hard on ourselves. Nothing is ever good enough; not us, not our work.

This is simply not true.

Don't Believe

We, each, have a voice and we have chosen this difficult path because of the passion we have for storytelling. Yes, everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone can write a compelling tale. How many times have you said you’re a writer and been met with the “I have a story for you” response? I’ve had people call me out of the blue to ask if I’d be up for writing their life story.

First of all, that’s not my genre. If we were actually friends, you’d probably know that. I’m good, by the way, mind overflowing with characters and backdrops, but thanks for thinking of me…?

How about you keep that story for your next cocktail party.

I believe being a writer is a calling. If you can’t give it up, then keep at it! This is why we have to do our best to remain positive. It’s takes a great deal of self-confidence and optimism to follow such a dream, so when that little voice in the back of your mind starts to get a bit mouthy, remember this quote, and keep working until you silence it.

Happy Writing!

12Feb2016

Getting Out of the Office

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

Wednesday I decided to stop being such a hermit and took a drive to enjoy the change in the weather. I grabbed The Pups and we headed out to explore the natural wonder in our backyard, Red Rock Canyon. I grew up in Las Vegas, and the desert holds no mystery for me, but Red Rock is such a sight, it’s no wonder that some 2 million visitors take the 13 mile drive to enjoy the view each year.

No where else in the city does this red stone exist, or the type rock. Mountains just a bit to the south have a red band amidst the pale sandstone, but that’s it. In the picture to the left, the red rocks themselves are to the right. My camera does not do this landscape any justice.

As I stood on one of the precipices that overlooks the valley, I had to wonder about what it must have been like to live on this land thousands of years ago. There used to be water here, and along one of the dry creek beds, pine trees still remain. This whole area is just such a random jumble of natural bits. It is quite beautiful, and found in such an unlikely place, Las Vegas.

I took one of the smaller hikes to look for petroglyphs, but my boy was not having any of that. He is from L.A. after all. My girl, on the other hand, was so excited to be out seeing and smelling new things. Still, we didn’t make it very far. Perhaps another day. It was refreshing to get out; I really do spend way too much time indoors. The desert is intolerable in the summer and the winters aren’t much better, but there are a few weeks between each that make living here bearable, so I better take advantage of it.

As writers, we sometimes find ourselves stuck in a routine, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing, but we have to get out and see new things, in an effort to keep the imagination stirring. No matter where you live, take a short drive and explore the great outdoors. Breathe fresh air. Remove that city landscape from your view. You never know where inspiration may strike!

Best wishes!

10Feb2016

Writing Prompt #71

Posted in Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

As many of you are aware, I am fascinated by lost worlds. I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to abandoned places, many of which make me sad for their neglected state, but there’s something about this one. It’s almost as if it dropped from out of the sky.

Abandoned Phonebooth

Are you inspired? Come write with me!

8Feb2016

Quote Monday

Posted in Posts, Quotes by Rachael C Marek

After last week’s post, I sort of went on a mental holiday. As a favor, a friend of mine let me borrow his XBox One. For those of you who know of my love for the Dragon Age series, you can imagine my excitement at finally getting to play the DLCs. More on that later. When people let you borrow their things, regardless of their reassurances that you may keep said item(s) for an extended period of time, you don’t want to take advantage, and so I played Dragon Age like a crack-addled crazy person without a care in the world. Translation: I played a lot, for days on end.

It’s easy to get lost in such an immersive world where your decisions seem to matter. Whereas in life, you may be struggling and feeling insignificant, in my gamer life I was reunited with old friends, stopped an invasion, slayed two dragons, and even got married. 😉 Not a bad week.

In real life, I still haven’t had a single response to any of the applications I’ve submitted for a new job, I had a few rotten shifts which in turn caused me to have to borrow money to pay rent and buy food, and I mistakenly received a text from my boss, clearly meant for someone else, in which she insulted me. Real life sucks sometimes. WhereFocusGoes

And that’s why we have to get up, brush ourselves off, and kick reality in the teeth! This may be the pre-birthday doldrums talking, but I want my life to not be…this. If I were in a princess movie, the handsome prince (who happens to look like Tom Hiddleston) would be riding up on his white steed to save me The Odds right about now, but as we all know, life is hardly a fairy tale, and we have to make our own future.

Both of these quotes spoke to me this week because I have been focusing on the wrong things and worrying about the future of my career. I was doing really well on the new schedule, focused and determined, but something threw me off course and now is the time to correct that.

If you’ve made big changes, I’d love to hear your story; how you did it, and if you found the result you were seeking.

Have a great week!

1Feb2016

Quote Monday

Posted in Posts, Quotes by Rachael C Marek

I’m going to ramble for a moment, so please bear with me while I vent.

In last week’s Writing Prompt post I mentioned how I was struggling with choices. Before the end of the year, I was doing some hard thinking about plans for the future. The Sis and I moved back to Las Vegas a little over a year ago for a number of reasons, one being that she finish her undergrad and then we move on. Unfortunately, she has now found a job she truly enjoys, she’s making friends, and getting herself together. She’s currently taking the semester off.

It seems unfair to uproot yet again, but I don’t want to stay here. I don’t like Vegas. Never have. I’m tired of moving…we’ve moved so. many. times, but I want to find a place to call “home”. I’ve only felt that sense of home once, when I traveled to England for the first time. I felt it before we even landed. That’s when the obsession began. And, that’s what I’m looking for. As much as I’d like to do a final move across the sea, there’s just no way that’s even remotely possible in my current state.

So here’s “the thing”, the thing that’s been lingering at the back of my mind, the thing I never want to say out loud. I want to be a screenwriter, but all screenwriters know it takes at least 5 years to make any headway (once you legitimately hit the pavement – so I still have about 4 years), and I don’t want to flounder in this state, without purpose, without direction, for upwards of 5 or more years. I don’t want to hold down a menial job that I loathe until things work out. Yes, I’m still trying to remain positive, hence the lack of the dangerous “if”.

I want a job I enjoy. I want to buy a house. I want to plan for the future but I feel as if I’m destined to remain in this perpetual state of limbo. It all comes back around to choices. I’ve made choices that have led me to where I am, but I’m finding it difficult to make choices that will encourage change…in part because I don’t know where to begin.

Do I suck it up and make it work where I am, or do I continue to seek out that thing that I know is out there? How does one move forward when they’re kind of stuck due to obligation and circumstance? How do people get their act together?

NewEnding