Friday, May 20, 2011

Positive Patterns

Patterns. We all fall victim to sundresses for summer, spring floral fashion, fall book covers, and cute snow boots for winter.

Does the same happen with our writing?

In the Spring & Summer months I love to write of love and happiness. It is also the best time to edit, the sunshine beaming through my window giving me the vitamin D I need to keep pressing forward until I feel the end has come.

In the Fall & Winter months I write dark and serious novels. Those novels that are life changing, my characters have in depth issues that must be worked through before they able to take the reins on their life and become successful. Editing is not good in this time for my dark and dreary moods cause for feeling very defeated, but it's when my voice shines the most.

What pattern have you created for yourself? Do you ever view it as a positive or negative? Wish you could change it?

27 comments:

Lindsay N. Currie said...

Mmm, yup. I drink white wine when it's hot outside and red wine when it's cold out. Does that count? LOL good post Jen:)

Anne Gallagher said...

Funnily enough, yes. I tend to write less dark in the spring and summer, and more deep and heavy in the winter. I also notice the weather and whatever it's doing outside that day, I stick it in the book as well.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

The only pattern I'd have to say is my mainstake where writing is concerned would be everyday. I do at least some writing everyday. I never thought of writing seasonally; however, the weather does affect how I feel when I write. lol

Candyland said...

I'm sort of the same way except I pretty much always write dark novels!

Laura Pauling said...

I tend to go back and forth. I write a fun humorous novel and then I write a darker more literary one and back and forth!

Christine Danek said...

OMG, I do this. Summer is coming and I'm writing a more lighthearted story and in the winter extremely dark. Too funny.
Have a great weekend!

Unknown said...

It's funny that you mention that because I think it's a true statement for the majority of writers. I agree that writing in the drearier months can make for a much better intensity and tragic factor, but when it comes to editing, without the sun I'd just kick my book across the room and say it sucks and never look at it again. Breathing fresh air where it's nice outside is definitely more uplifting :P

Meredith said...

How interesting that your voice shines the most in the winter! I guess all that angst does make for good writing. And yes, editing in the winter is just cruel and unusual punishment.

Matthew MacNish said...

I don't have annual patterns like that, just daily ones.

And not all of us fall victim to sundresses, Jen, not me.

Jessica Bell said...

I haven't really noticed many patterns. I think I'm dark and serious all the time! lol

Jillian said...

It really makes a lot of sense. Our moods are often affected by the weather and it is not surprising that our moods would be reflected in our writing!!

Happy Friday Jen!

Stina said...

I don't have patterns either. This is mostly because I write when I write regardless of the season. Though I tend to write less in the summer because the kids are home from school.

I can't even say the stories take place during the season I'm experiencing. I've written about the summer during the winter and vice versa. Though it's a lot easier writing about winter when it is winter. ;)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

As a teacher, I tend to write most during the school year. I struggle to be productive during the summer, because we're vacationing or playing with the kids or doing yard work . . .

Christina Lee said...

Hmm.. now you've got me thinking. I write with varying degrees of motivation based on the sun and the gray. Does that make sense?

Talei said...

I find I write better when I'm alone in the house... and when the weather is cold..that way its less of a distraction.

Happy Friday - btw I have tagged you on my blog, do drop by when you can. :-) x

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I think I write the same all the time. Usually positive - never written anything dark.

Nicole Zoltack said...

I've written some dark stuff but I never really pay attention to where or not I write light versus dark during the time of year. Interesting...

Michelle Merrill said...

I definitely have patterns. Maybe not with the weather but how my day's going. I can't write when I've had a bad angsty day because my MC is on everyone's case and the whole chapter goes downhill. Really, it's scary. So I'd take a nice quiet night after a good day with the kids and hubby all in bed :)

Jennifer Hillier said...

Hmmm... I guess I do have my own patterns. I write first drafts in the fall and winter, and spend the spring and summer revising. I think there's just too much going on for me during the warmer months that it kinds of stunts my creativity, so I tend to be better working on revisions rather than making up stories that are totally new. Great post, Jen! Made me think.

Denise Covey said...

Truth is I'd never thought about it, but you're right on. Most of my stories have the beach, sun, the water, wide open spaces. Wonder where I live?

Denise<3

Michael Di Gesu said...

I think we all go through moods in writing. Whether it be seasonally or emotionally.

I for one am very affected by the weather. Bright sunny days I create lyrical a happy prose. A-Z challenge posts were written in Florida. Most were fantasy and mythology, love, and spring time. I wrote only on dark post and that was for Wendy Ryan's dark blogfest.

So I am with you on this one Jen.

Sue said...

I'm not sure that I have a pattern, but I've noticed that when I write drabbles they're more edgy/sad/negative than when I write any other way. I'd love to know why it happens.

alexia said...

Not really sure if I have seasonal patterns... although I have noticed so many people are in serious edit frenzy lately, including myself. So, maybe I do like to edit more in the springtime.

... Paige said...

alas I may also be a victim of the seasons and sometimes I fall into that - wanting, longing if you will for the season past of for the one coming.

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

I'd say I don't have a pattern, but in saying that I probably have a pattern of not having a pattern. :)

LTM said...

I'm only wrapping up my second year as a writer, but I do see patterns! Only this year has been so crazy, it was hard to live up to them. I tend to be more romancey, light in the spring and more dark and broody in the fall. Yep, that's pretty boring and predictable! :D LOL~

oh, well! <3

Kailah said...

I write more about love in the winter...or whenever I get dumped. Since I have all the time in the world to myself in the summer, I usually use the time to reflect.