Challenge Thus Far - My 500 Words D15

The writing challenge has been going great so far. It has been interesting to realize how hard it is to write 500 words on some days but so easy on others. Certainly the topic has a lot to do with it. When I wrote about my grandmother I had over a thousand words easily. However, some of the other topics I was watching word count.

I have been doing some of the topics from the challenge. But, mainly I have been trying to practice painting a picture and setting the mood. I want readers to visualize and feel. When I read stories or novels the ones I love the most are the ones that transport me to the place the writer is describing. Where I can imagine what the place looks like, what the characters look like, when I am invested in their lives (even knowing that they are not real people).

I found a couple of pictures to illustrate sunrays and a foggy road. I came up with a backdrops story as to how I got to those places. Then I attempted to describe what I saw and what it made me feel. I felt that exercise was fairly successful. However, the one yesterday, talking about food, I felt that I could have done better on. I did a good job describing the items and ingredients but not a good job selling their appeal. I should have thought back to those cooking channels I watch as to how they talk about food or maybe the novel “Like Water for Chocolate.”

With the time I have left I think I am going to try my hand at writing in Spanish. While I am originally from Puerto Rico and my first language is Spanish I have not written in my native language very often since moving to the states. That will be a good practice. I think setting the scene and painting a picture will be easier in Spanish. We are more descriptive and romantic (and wordy). In English there is this need to get to the point, “spit it out already” if you will. In Spanish that is not the case. We love talking and describing things. We do not leave out any part of the story.

Maybe that is my key to achieving better English descriptions; it is to think in Spanish. What would I say and then translate. I think about Spanish love songs how they describe romance and the love of a man for a woman so differently than English songs. One song by Son by Four called Cuando Seas Mia (when you are mine) the lead singer describes the things he will do to this woman once she is his. He states that he is going to love her from the arch of her eyebrow on down. I mean, who says that? It is incredibly sexy! I have never heard that in English love songs. I need to bring the Latino sexy to my English writing.  

Another nice part of this challenge has been reading some of the things other individuals have been writing. It is nice to be in a community of writers. I have not had that before. It is nice to see people share resources and techniques without expecting anything in return with people who are for the most part strangers. I have gotten further this time around than the last time I attempted a writing challenge. This is exciting. I just need to take the next step and being to write the books I have been thinking about and the one screen play. I have to keep the passion and discipline going!