How to use your life experience to make real-life-like characters… 2nd Day of Devin’s Writing Routine Exercise

The past few days have been days where I have had issues starting to write. Sometimes it’s a combination of “I don’t feel like writing!” or “I don’t want to write, right now.” or “How am I going to say this in an interesting way.”

Day two of Devin’s Writing Routine Exercise - 

First of all before, I give you the report on my writing. I will let ya know how my weekend went. I went to the Sunshine Coast on the weekend with my boyfriend to spend time with his dad. It was a nice relaxing weekend and a very nice break from the city. On late Satday night I had gone to bed a tad late and then a few hours later, Johan knocked on my door asking if I’d like to go watch the sun rise. I was so lethargic and tired, but I am glad we did, because it was definitely beautiful. :)

This is what it looked like, at first.

A bit later. It was amazing how fast the sun peaked over the horizon. It was so nice, and we listened to “Here comes the sun…” by the Beatles. It totally fit the mood. :)

So, I believe that it was most definitely worth the getting up to go see it.

It was so cold up there. I am so happy that I wore a sweater and sweatpants. Here are Johan’s frozen little fingers from taking so many pictures. But, he had thought ahead before and made Hot Milo. (Which was amazing!!) and warming…

I was so proud of myself because this weekend, I designed my own landing page for the welcome tab on my facebook writing page. :) Check it out and let me know what you think. Also, if you aren’t following me on my facebook page, press like to follow.

This is the picture that you will see on my welcome page if you have “liked” me. :)

When Monday rolled by – I was really tired and didn’t really wake up at 5am. I mean this was expected that there would be days when I didn’t want to wake up to write, right? Well, it happened. But, even though i hadn’t woken up at 5am… I still made sure I got my word count in. I wrote 1,555 words. Another thing I really learned extremely yesterday (Monday) is the pain that my character was suffering.

I was writing and found a song that really connected me to my character Elfria, when I get further into the book I will be sure to share a little bit with you all.
Here is the video, by the 2 Cellos. It is titled: Hurt.

I listened to it and while writing, my fingers started typing faster and my eyes got wider as my character came to life. Her thoughts became mine and her feelings – well, I was feeling them.

My character was dealing with the first time that she was crushed. You know that horrible moment in your life when you like someone and they don’t like you back? Well,  I have experienced both types. The first option is feeling crushed because you like someone and they simply just don’t like you back like that. The second one, is that you like someone and they play on your emotions and cause you more pain – while leading you more astray. They will never love you, but they don’t care about bringing you down a rocky path if they can enjoy playing on your emotions. So, that is what my character was going through. Which reminds me of a quote I came across by Ernest Hemingway just recently. (I want to apologize for his language… but it is true.)

You especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously.
But when you get the damned hurt, use it-don’t cheat with it. -Ernest Hemingway

This is a quote stated like a true writer who experienced some hard times. So, Day 2 of my writing Routine Exercise is being dedicated to pulling from your own experiences to write.

Pulling from your life to write

1. Remember -
   Think back on emotional (good and bad memories) and write down things like.
   “I remember when my cat died.”
   “I remember when I saw my boyfriend for the first time.”
   “I remember when I lost my best friend.”
   Do- Write down a bunch of “I remembers” and go through them and pick one at a time. Then write the experience out.
   Remember to write about how you felt, who was there, how something happened.
   Maybe it’s not a memory that brings back emotions to you, it could also be a song, smell, or food.
2. Literally use your own feelings - the book that I am working on is a paranormal/fantasy book, so of course it is set in a different world and there are magical creatures in it as well. But, that doesn’t mean that my “Real Life feelings” can’t help me in my “other-world” writing.
   Do- When you feel happy, sad, depressed, lonely, or any other emotion write about it.
   Sit down and write it.
   Write it to get past it… and you will be amazed at how you will be able to use those distinct emotions and feelings in your writings.
3. Place yourself in your character’s shoes – what is he/she dealing with?
   Relate to her/him – by thinking back to moments when you also dealt with similar things.
   Do- Read over an area where your character is dealing with an emotional issue. Then think back, to a similar time in your life. Is it realistic? (e.g. Is your character really as sad as they should be about their mother’s death?)

I hope that these tips help you when writing about trials and emotional times that your characters may be going through.

Do you struggle with writing about your character’s problems and emotions? If so what kind of things help you get in the mood of your characters? Music? No Music? Anything else?
 

Here Johan and I are in the sun-rays when we were watching the sun come up on Saturday morning. It was beautiful! :)

A Relaxing Day Away at Mount Glorious! :)

I woke up on Cinco De Mayo not completely sure what the day held before me and Johan. I decided that I would make Johan a delish mexican dinner to celebrate Cinco De Mayo- but Johan came to pick me up and I thought we were going to Coles (The grocery store) because I was quite low on food and what not. Then we started driving and he said we aren’t going to Coles. I then asked, “Where are we going, then?” and he smirked like – why would I tell you that!? lol… then he asked, “Well, where would you need tennis shoes, water, and shorts?” There were countless things running through my mind like “gyming” (That Idea got thrown out completely, because as much as I know I should do it – I didn’t want to at that moment) and then I said “hiking?” and he said mayyyyybe!

We started driving and all of a sudden all around us we got the feeling of being in the country instead of the city. Which is a lovely feeling. I was raised in the country and I have realized how much I miss it now living in a city. Soon we stopped at a car park and got out. There was a sign that said D’Aguilar National Park and that there was a rainforest circuit walk. We started walking. It was so peaceful with no loud noises. The birds sung and their songs echoed through the vines draping from the extremely tall trees. It was such a gorgeous evening. We ended up going deeper into the woods and the deeper we went the darker it got. Also the colder it got.

At the end of the hike the rain forest was getting much darker and thoughts of bears and wolves started filling my mind only to be reminded that they don’t live in Australia. Then we heard an eerie bird screeching that sounded like a shrieking baby. It scared us. I have no idea what it was though. Our imaginations were fumbling and twirling with thoughts of a witch in the forest who wanted to eat us. That’s what happens to my imagination. Give me something to think about that is slightly scary and I could drive myself crazy with those thoughts of what it was…

We made it back to the car and as we drove back to Brisbane there was a point where we stopped at a stop light. We both heard something and looked at one another. What was it??? It sounded like the Demon Baby Bird that was in the forest. After having shocked faces and then realizing our thoughts were just our imaginations and that the noise we had probably just heard was the breaks of a passing car or something. We laughed for quite a while.

I am so thankful for such an a amazing boyfriend who surprises me with little things like this. :) Sooo thankful! :)

I may have mentioned it before, but I am taking a writing course from “Writer’s Digest University”. It’s a course on freelance writing. I finished my first assignment today and now I need to figure out how to confront a business about doing freelance work for them. I have currently done two brochures and they are so amazing!  I love them… So, I hope the companies do as well! :)

Well I must scoot!

Much Love,

Devin

ciao

Finding the true America – with “One Nation Under God” – National Day of Prayer

Hello Everyone,

I am an American who is living abroad in Australia. It is the 3rd of May, here in Australia, which means that it is the 2nd of May in America right now. On the 3rd of May in America – it is The National Day of Prayer. It’s something that is held very close to my heart. I remember when I was in high school it was a big thing to meet at the pole early in the morning for the prayer of our nation. I think history and culture is very important for American’s. The most important thing though, is belief. If it’s not a belief in God, many American’s have a belief in their people – they believe in their people, their strength, and their Hope. Although, those are all good things to believe in – they are not the main things that the American forefathers started America on. America was a place where people ran to for religious freedom and to start anew! The land was set on Christian ground.

Just lately, there have been some things that I haven’t been so happy with, with my country. The President and some of the things that he has been involved in. As a Christian, I was appalled at what Dan Savage said at a Journalism Convention (You may also watch and listen to what this man says.”
This was supposed to be a talk about Bullying and Anti-Bullying… and yet, He was bullying. I found that, that was extremely wrong. It says that Obama supports this man. So, if you agree with me that it was wrong, please visit this website and sign the petition to the President.
(If you agree with me, that this is wrong – but you can’t sign the petition because you aren’t an American – then don’t feel left out, because you may help as well… America needs as many prayers as you can send out. So, if you are a prayer warrior… please meet all the other prayer warriors across the world at the feet of Jesus on our knees. Change only comes when many people unite in Jesus’ name. So, let’s all make a difference with our Nation’s brothers and sisters – because that is what we are. :) I know that I will meet all of you someday and I am very thankful for all of you.

I am not the happiest with my countries government and the current situation that it is in. In my title “Finding the true America…” I wanted to bring out the picture of The True America… The true America isn’t what you see on the News. It isn’t Obama speaking on the news or the other politicians. It isn’t the multiple news stations fighting about who you should vote for. The TRUE America are the people who stand up – They are the people willing to make a difference. They are the people who don’t want their country to get lost in the mess of the world.  It isn’t what you see in the open – That isn’t the TRUE America. The True America is the quiet one, the one waiting to stand up for what is right. The huge company of hidden voices waiting to be heard, screaming in the silence to be heard.

Join me and thousands of other believers across the globe to pray for America the next two days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3Yw6KqJ34Q

Who? Me. What? Driving on the opposite side of the car and opposite side of the road…throw a stick shift into the picture and what do you get? Lol…. = it was a success… Haha… I am proud of myself!

I just got done writing a thousand words. I am so happy that I know what is going to happen next in my story. I once interviewed an author and they told me that they love to stop writing each night when they know what they will proceed with the next day. It’s a nice idea to try out next time when you write!! :)

I am going to start working on a surprise for all of you this week. It will be an awesome blogging experience momentum for all of ya! I am excited to offer it to ya all! :)

Today my boyfriend taught me to drive on the left side of the road, right side of the car, and with a stick shift. Let’s just say that, that is a lot to think about coming from driving on the right side of the road, on the left side of a car, and with an automatic. You no longer only have to deal with 2 pedals, but with three pedals and a five geared stick shift and the whole thing with the other side of the car and road thing. I was nervous at first but towards the actually driving without stalling it, it got exciting for me, but I think that Johan enjoyed it even more to give me a driving lesson! And let’s say I only stalled it twice…. And it was on flat ground. So I was proud of myself. It was funny because I drove his mum’s car and it’s a little golden car and one timesee said I could borrow it if I wanted to when in Brisbane and inside I was thinking… Um… No, because I don’t know how to drive a stick shift. But then I said to her one time, ” No, I can’t drive that, Thing. I can drive a bicycle instead!” and from that day and on the little golden nugget of a car has been called and known as the “Thing” by his whole family! Lol… Oh boy…

This week I will start doing a part time job working as an admin for a psychologist. I can’t wait to start! It will be exciting, besides the brain and psychology has always interested me!  That will be fun! :) Then tomorrow I will update you about searching for magazines to send writing into and sending proposals to businesses in the Brisbane area offering my writing and design services. I will also add a tab up above with my services and how you can hire me. My portfolio tab will be edited tomorrow as well! So there are many things to keep your eyes open for! Exciting!

Today was a great day with m boyfriend, Johan! I am so blessed to call him mine! :)

Love ya all,

Devin

Back in my flat-ett! :)

Hello Everyone,

Today is a lovely day here in Brisbane. I opened the windows and put a sweater on. It feels like autumn… even though I am in Australia. There is a women next door who is working in her garden and I can smell fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. They smell like heaven. I just wish I could go help her… haha… and eat the veggies too. They smell so yummy. There is a wooden picket fence between her garden and my windows. But every once in awhile I think that it would be lovely to sneak into her garden. It makes me think of the book “The Secret Garden”.

Who wouldn’t want a secret garden to escape to? Like yesterday Johan and I took a walk and discovered a park where some moms were having a picnic with their kids and such. It was beautiful. :) But on our way back I saw a wall with vines growing all over it and then in one area there was an iron gate that looked like it entered a vine covered rock wall maze. Johan said he would build me a garden maze someday! I am leaving it to him… BUT… Let’s just hope I can find my way out of it once I made my way into it. Because I didn’t have the best luck with that in England and if you ask any of my family members about how good I am at mazes… lets just say  - I am not the best! :P

Today I have been thinking about my characters from my book and have been trying to decide how to go about writing the first book. I am slightly stuck… but I will figure something out. I am hoping to set up a time with some other writers where I could have a writing group, somewhat like what C.S. Lewis had with J.R. R. Toilken in Oxford called “The Inklings”. I would so love that.

Other than that I am situating back into my flat after having been in Toowoomba. I am thankful my flat isn’t in the busy loud part of the city! It is on a back street of a bigger road so thank God I don’t hear the traffic.

But onto writing I go! I will be posting a winner from my Zombie Flash Fiction contest soon… so keep your eyes open! :)

Devin

Check out my latest Minnesota Star Tribune World Class Travel Blog Post - http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/blogs/148821685.html

Feeling out of touch with everyone!

Today has been one of those days where everything gets you emotionally. The weather here has been rainy and overcast pretty much all day! I have finished getting my place all cozy and clean! I should be done with all that tonight as when I get home I will finish the cleaning. I have to clean the blinds. I am sure the person who lived there before me didn’t get their money back from the bond/deposit. One thing I found funny earlier this week was that the property manager said the man was like 70 and that he went on a walk about and never returned! Makes me wonder where he is and if he is lost in the outback or… Yeah… It makes me wonder what happened to him. I am currently looking for a job. I printed resumes and such so starting Monday it will be looking intensely! I haven’t been able to get my Internet up and running here yet! It’s a tad bit annoying… Fine it’s really annoying! I miss my family and wish I could Skype but haven’t been able to for a little more than a week. So besides looking for jobs, I will be dedicated to finding Internet this week via wifi or broadband for my flat.

I am sure you all saw the post where I was a guest blogger on Krissy Brady’s blog about writing. If you haven’t seen it, hop on over! Besides she has quite a few other neat posts and entries with awesome writing advice!

Later in the week I will be uploading an interview that I did with Robert Liparulo, author of many amazing books! His most recent is “The 13th Tribe”!! Which was amazing! So definitely keep your eyes open for the interview in the next few days! :)

Well I better be going!

Much Love from this side of the world,

Devin

Christmas Eve… My thankful list

Hello Everyone,
Today I woke up to snow. :) Just possibly, we might have a WHITE Christmas. I really do hope that we do! :) It would be lovely. My sister and I went shopping together in Fargo today. It was a lovely last day of Christmas shopping. We found some sweet things. You know, I never realized how lucky I am… well, not lucky, but Blessed I am. I have all I would want for Christmas this year. I have a Lord and Savior who came to earth to die just so that I could know peace and live everyday for him, while being a light of his to the world. I have a family who believe in me and love me. They have encouraged me, my whole life. “Devin, you can do anything that you want to. The sky is the limit.” And you know what? They were right. I have a sister and brother who I love heaps and are two of my best friends, no actually, they ARE my two best friends. They mean the world to me. Life without them would have been quite different for me. That little sister who I always loved telling stories to, telling her about things and why the world was a certain way- only for her to find out later that I was using my imagination quite a bit. The little sister who played the “Second Best” parts in the plays I put on for family. That little sister who said she saved me when I fell off the inner-tube at swimming lessons. :)  That little brother of mine who had an imagination bigger than the world. The ‘put’ ‘put’ of his little cars and trucks and the ‘psh’ ‘psh’ of his little plastic army men.
We did everything together, we traveled the country with Mom and Dad. Not a day goes by that I miss those little siblings… even though they are here still today and whenever I see them, I still see those 2 sweet faces that grew up with me and loved and even sometimes loved to hate (only sometimes). I am so happy that they are both here still for me in life and that no matter what happens in the future – that they will still be there for me.
I am also so blessed for such an amazing mother and father. I know that I wasn’t ever a perfect child (and who is?), but I am grateful that my parents raised me the way they did. They taught me many things about the world, the Lord, Love, and people in the world. I know that sometimes I may be short or snappy with them, but all in all, I haven’t ever meant it. I deeply and greatly thankful for them the whole way- back to every diaper changed, and hot cocoa made for me. I love them so much! :)
There is someone else that has made it into my thankful list, he is new to my list of thankfullnesses… His name is Johan. I met him over a year and 3 months ago. He has become a huge part of my life and I am very thankful for him as well. He has encouraged me, hugged me, loved me, written me love notes and cared about me for 1 year and I feel like I’ve known him longer. I look forward to spending more years together. I greatly love him. This year we spent together was filled up with many great memories that I hold very dear to me from painting on the beach, ballet on the beach :P and deep conversations and even some funny conversations (That only we would ever talk about – don’t try guessing! LOL… you will never guess correctly.) Many thousands of skype dates and facebook notes. Many tears and many moments of laughter & Joy as well. A trip through America and building our relationship to last throughout any storm, since we were made to bare through it as we were separated by that blasted ocean. Right now he is in South Africa. He spent the first few weeks with his brother and his fiance. He is now at his sister’s house celebrating Christmas with them and his grand-parents. I am happy that he got to spend time with them and pray that they have a great time together. :) In 9 days, I will see him again. It almost feels weird to say that, because it’s been sooooo lonng since I last saw him. I will be meeting him in Singapore. “Am I nervous?” you ask.
“Yes, I am!” I really don’t know what this year holds. I do know that it holds me entering a journey that is unmarked. I do know that I will write and that I WILL find an agent this year. I know that I will look for a job (And will find one- a good one!) in Australia, and that I will find an apartment to stay at.
I will get to spend an amazing year in Australia with Johan. Which, I am very excited about!!
My comfort spot is always a tough thing to break though. I am comfortable, right now sitting on my parents couch at 3 am writing in my baggy sweater and sweat-pants…. this is such a big world, am I ready to take it on? Am, I Devin Berglund ready? Because God has something big for me in my life.

It’s like the moment I went to Mexico all by myself when I was 14 on a mission trip – I secretly didn’t want to leave home. I wanted to stay home with Momma, Daddy, Tony, and Cassidy. I didn’t want to leave.
Just the same with the time that I graduated from High-School and when my dad teared up at my graduation speech… I also did too. I didn’t want to leave them all and go to college. but I had too….
Just like the night I moved into my dorm as a freshman at MSUM, I cried myself to sleep that night. I didn’t want to be staying in a dorm with someone i didn’t know. I wanted to be with them.
Just the same when I started thinking about studying abroad in Australia and I kept telling myself no.
Daddy told me to do it – so I did.
The moment we brought my sister to Milwaukee Ballet for a summer intensive (seems like yesterday) I didn’t want to leave her there. I loved her too much, I didn’t want her there, I wanted her- here with me.
The moment I left to board my plane and my mom broke into tears- that moment, i didn’t want to be leaving to Australia on a life time adventure… I wanted to be staying with all of them.
So, life continues throwing at us new adventures were we wont be in our comfort-zone and I hate writing that, because I don’t want to. I want to say- don’t sweat it. It’s a piece of cherry pie. But, then I would be lying and I don’t want that.
I am excited about going to Australia again, although I am torn. I really love Johan and I miss him. I will miss my family a lot! I know that God has a lot of interesting stuff ahead and I know that we all must grow up. Even though, I wish we didn’t have to. But, I don’t want to grow up and live in the play-house either (Guess, what? I had actually said that once!) haha!!! :P

Peter Pan “I wont grow up.”

I, have come to terms that I, Devin Berglund am a blessed girl and that I am LUCKY. I was given everything I need and I have it. So, really people- I wouldn’t need anything for Christmas this year, because I am happy!

P.S. Sorry, Mom… while writing this I was thinking… Momma, is going to read this, I hope she doesn’t cry… So, I am sorry if it made you cry at all. I don’t like seeing you cry, but I wanted to write the truth. I am soooo thankful for everything you did in my life. Thank you for listening to my kindergarten teacher when she told you that tid-bit of information. I am so happy you let me morph into the creature that I am and who God made me- Because of that, I am writing, I have a lovely family that I LOVE DEARLY, and because of that I have a man i love and who loves me too.
I LOVE YOU MOMMA!

Thank you everyone, my readers… I am thankful for all of you as well.

Merry Christmas!!
Hope you all, already have what you need this Christmas!!

Be Blessed!

Devin +

“The Reason For The Season Was Born In A Manger.”