Writer's First Aid BLOG: a medicine chest of hope

I hope this blog will help alleviate the inevitable pains of the writing life, increase your writing energy, and help you make your writing dreams come true. (If you want to leave a comment, you can read and leave comments at my identical blog at www.Writers-First-Aid.blogspot.com)

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

"Lexophile: Lover of Cryptic Writing"

HUMOR FOR LEXOPHILES
This was sent to me last year, and I just found it this morning. It gave me a laugh--I hope it will brighten your day too.

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Police were called to a day care where a 3-year-old was resisting a rest.

Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.

The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

A thief who stole a calendar got 12 months.

A thief fell fell broke his leg in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.

The dead batteries were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

A will is a dead giveaway.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

A backward poet writes inverse.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.
 
Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner..

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.

You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

A calendar's days are numbered.

 
A boiled egg is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

When you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
 

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.


 
Acupuncture: a jab well done.
 

Monday, July 22, 2008

"Give Your Characters YOUR Secrets"

I'm always reading articles on writing with your original voice and writing honestly, so I read Rob Parnell's article "Baring Your Soul: a Writer's Guide" with interest. It's about having the guts to write honestly about what you think, how you feel, what you've done, and who you are.
 
After I read Rob's six exercises (see below,) I couldn't help thinking that the answers to these questions would make great traits and backstory and fodder for your villains and quirky characters in your novels.
 
Do go and read the whole article, but here are the questions. Copy them into your writing notebook or your idea file, then take time to answer them--honestly. I plan to!
 
1. Write about the worst thing that's happened to you. Get it all out, every feeling, however low, every nuance of how it went down, who was to blame and how much you hate the people or events that caused it to happen.
 
2. Write about the most horrible thing you've ever done. It's easy for us to write about nice things and the good in ourselves but we hide from our other, darker side. No more - write down the most nasty vicious things you've ever thought or done. Don't be afraid, you don't have to show them to anyone - but you do need to purge those demons and get them out on paper.
 
3. List your crimes/sins in detail. All of us are a mess of good and bad. The facade we present to the world is an amalgam of what we want others to see. We all have bad thoughts and evil moments - it's how we deal with them that makes us who we are. Get it all out in the open.
 
4. Name your enemies and describe them. Really try to get inside the people you don't like - describe their physical appearance but also try to imagine how their minds work -and what they think about - especially about you.
 
5. Write about your embarrassing habits. Leave no stone unturned. No matter how bad, write about the things you wouldn't mention to a soul. Write down exactly what it is you enjoy - or hate - about those private little things you do when nobody's looking.
 
6. Write about your secret prejudices. We all have them - thoughts and notions that we know are not quite politically correct or acceptable, even to ourselves sometimes. But get them down on paper, explore your logic behind them and how they shape your more conventional notions.

 

 

Friday, July 19, 2008

"Regain the Passion--Part 3"

(First read "Regain the Passion" Part 1 and Part 2.)

How to Regain Lost Passion
If you were passionate about your writing in the past, but haven’t felt that way for a long time, there is a definite sadness mixed in with the lethargy. It feels like falling out of love, and in a very real sense, it is. Can you stir up the fires of passion for your writing? Can you fall in love with writing and your work again, when all seems dry as dust and just as tasteless? Yes!

Surprising Sources
Years ago, I struggled with this question, slowing becoming afraid that the boredom and apathy were permanent. I tried to muster some enthusiasm for my book-in-progress, whose deadline was fast approaching, but to no avail. It wasn’t the book manuscript itself. I knew it was finely plotted, with well placed clues and plenty of tension. The problem wasn’t in the manuscript—it was in me.

I found the answer to the problem one cold, snowy morning, and it came from the most unlikely source: my dog. We’d had freezing conditions for several days, cutting short my walks with Rhett (my black Lab.) I chained him outside for the day, then hurried back indoors. Playtime was cut short—it was just too cold and windy for me. I paid little attention to Rhett during that week, although I’d loved him passionately since bringing him home from the pound ten months earlier. As the frigid week wore on, and the weather stayed miserable, I began to resent having a dog. I hated going out in the weather to his snug dog house, carrying water often because his dish froze over. I became apathetic about Rhett—he was getting to be more trouble than he was worth.

Then one day the sun came out, melted the snow, and temperatures soared. I put Rhett on his leash and took an hour-long walk, complete with Puppy Biscuit rewards for correct sitting, heeling and staying. When we got home, I chained him outside near his food and water, then stayed to play. I petted, I stroked, I laughed, I cooed. (If you’re not a dog owner, you may need to gag here.) Anyone watching me that morning could see I had regained my passion for owning a dog.

Simple Formula
I’m sure you see the parallels. Regaining passion for your work can be accomplished the same way:
A. Pay attention to your work. Think about it when you’re not at your desk. Mull over your theme. Ponder plot points. Have mental conversations with your characters.
B. Take care of your work. Feed it with quotes and good resource books. Do in-depth research and interviews. Immerse yourself in your subject matter.
C. Spend time with your work. Daily, if possible. If you want passion to ignite in anything (a relationship, your work, a hobby) you must spend consistent—and sufficient—time with it. We understand this principle in romantic relationships, but it’s just as true with your writing.

Don’t Settle
Part of the enjoyment of being a writer is the pure passion and pleasure of setting words on paper. Don’t settle for ho-hum, apathetic work. Instead take the necessary steps to revive your passion for writing. Do it as often as necessary to keep that spark of joy alive!

 

 

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

"Regain the Passion--Part 2"

(Read Regain the Passion--Part 1 first.)

When does passion flourish? Under what conditions? First, a writer’s passion is generally at its highest point when life is going well. (Big surprise!) When relationships are smooth, health is good, there’s enough money to pay the bills, the writer is following a healthy diet and getting sufficient sleep: these are the optimal conditions. Whatever is draining your passion needs to be attended to, thoroughly and persistently. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always bring back the passion. It simple sets the stage, giving yourself the optimal environment for your resurrected passion to grow.

Habits of a Passionate Writer
How do you recognize passion for writing? Yes, it’s a feeling, but it’s so much more. Each writer will exhibit certain habits when she is being passionate about her writing. These habits are individual and personal. Take a moment to make a list of habits that (to you) marks a writer as passionate.
 

To me, a passionate writer:
A. writes, almost daily
B. listens, observes and thinks—alert to her surroundings
C. carries a notebook everywhere to jot down impressions, descriptions and ideas
D. journals—daily, if possible
E. is focused—begins and continues her writing with energy
F. reads other good children’s books, both current and classics
G. keeps up with professional reading
H. shares her enthusiasm at conferences and workshops (but doesn’t over-schedule such events so they don’t interfere with writing).
I. leads a more secluded life than the average person, in order to nurture and explore her talent
J. is physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually healthy.
K. Most of all, passionate writers are 24-hour-a-day writers. Even when washing dishes or cutting grass, the passionate writer’s work is close at hand, on the edges of her mind. Everything she does is writing-related and life-related, so that her work and her life are inseparable.

(On Friday we'll talk about practical ways to get the passion back.)

 

 

Monday, July 14, 2008

"Regain the Passion--Part 1"

Has this ever happened to you? You’re half-way through a short story revision, or the rough draft of your novel, or the research for a biography—and without warning, you lose your desire for the project. The passion evaporates. You feel lethargic, sad, and brain dead (or least oxygen deprived). You put your writing away for a few days, hoping it’s hormonal or a phase of the moon or post-holiday blues. However, when you dig it out again, it’s even worse. It doesn’t grab you. You’re sure it won’t grab anyone else either! It’s boring. It goes back in the drawer.

Unfortunately, over the next few weeks, the situation worsens. Lethargy turns to apathy. Boredom turns to dislike. You face the fact that, for some reason, you’ve lost your burning desire to write this story—or maybe even write anything at all. And without the passion, why bother to endure the long hours, the potential rejection of your work, and the low pay? Once it’s lost, how do you recapture your passion for writing?

What is Passion?
The question is summed up well by Hal Zina Bennett in Write from the Heart: "How do authors connect with that passion, bordering on obsession, that drives them to finish even the most ambitious writing projects in spite of seemingly insurmountable handicaps? What is the secret creative energy that the world’s best writers can apparently zap into action the moment their fingers touch their keyboards?"

Some say this passion is tied to how meaningful the writer feels his work is. He feels passion when what he is sharing is deeply meaningful. He may lose his passion when his writing turns into what will sell, what the markets dictate are current trends, and what pays the most money. Eric Maisel in A Life in the Arts says, "The most salient difference between the regularly blocked artist and the regularly productive artist may not be the greater talent of the latter, but the fact that the productive artist possesses and retains his missionary zeal."

Most writers would agree that a passion for writing involves enthusiasm, excitement, drive, and a deep love for your work. This passion makes writing a joyous occupation. It makes time fly while "real life" is shoved to the far comers of the mind. It’s being in the flow, enraptured in the present moment. For some, it’s being aware that they’re writers twenty-four hours a day.

Why Does Passion Dissipate?
Passion can spring a leak after too many rejection slips, too many critical comments from spouses or reviewers or critique partners, and too many crises to handle in your personal life. Passion can also die when you repeat yourself in your work instead of exploring new avenues of writing.

Lack of passion can be caused by chronic fatigue. "Fatigue and the accompanying blockage also come with living the sort of marginal life that artists so often live," says Eric Maisel. "The effort required to put food on the table, to deal with an illness without benefit of a hospital plan, to pay the rent, to get a toothache treated, to attend to the needs of a spouse or children, can tire out the most passionate and dedicated artist."

 

Friday, July 11, 2008

"How Do You Measure Success?"

I'm a sucker for daily reminders from various websites. I get writing reminders, fitness reminders, and blog notices. Today in a couple of fitness emails I realized the solution to a writing problem I have this morning. First, there was an email from SparkPeople on getting fit called “Success is an Attitude.” A woman wrote: "I plan to lose 50 pounds over a year. I am not setting myself up for any big disappointments by trying to lose too much too fast. Every day is a new day. Every day can be a successful day." Smart lady, I thought.

Then I read an article from Runner’s World about “The Ten Rules of Weight Loss.” The first rule said, "To lose 10 pounds of body fat a year, you need to eat 100 calories less per day. Cutting too many calories from your daily intake will sap your energy level and increase your hunger, making you more susceptible to splurging on high-calorie foods."

Ah-ha! Do you see a parallel with writing? I sure do. My natural tendency (like this week) is to grit my teeth, buckle down, and write 5,000 words every day for two weeks to finish a project. Who am I kidding? I can maybe keep up that grueling schedule for several days, but soon I’m depleted, with back and head aching, and I want to eat everything in sight and vege out through a couple of chick flicks. Then it takes me a week to make myself write again, thus averaging out my writing to something like 1000 words per day. Why not just write 1000 (or 500) easy words every single day? That would be a breeze! They’d add up, I wouldn’t get that familiar neck and hip pain from sitting too long—and I would meet the deadline.

I need to take the attitude of the lady who planned to lose fifty pounds by losing one pound per week. What was it that she said? That way
every day is a new day. Every day can be a successful day.

 

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

"(Writing) Life Interrupted"

Last night, after a satisfying two days of writing and being right on track with a deadline this week, I got some news that threw my tight schedule out the window for five days. I woke up at 4 a.m. thinking about what to do and putting in some extra prayer time. Then, when checking email, I received a Google Alert, those little email notices that tell you when someone has mentioned you somewhere online. I clicked through and found a post by my former writing student, Myra Johnson, called "When Life Interrupts." Yes! Terrific article--and good ideas in the comments section as well. I had to smile at what Myra had written about me. In part she said, "She’s an expert in working through the interruptions!" I thought Hmmmm... If I was such an expert, then I could stop floundering as I tried to reclaim in my writing schedule for the week.
 
Sometimes we only need to be reminded about what we already know. Then we need to apply what we know. Feeling a bit silly, I opened my own book, Writer's First Aid and read a few chapters in the "Getting Started" and "Work Habits That Work for You" sections. I came across a couple ideas to help me get back on track quickly today--before any more time is lost. Thanks for the reminder, Myra! Life IS interruptions--so let's deal with them.

 

Monday, July 7, 2008

"My Own Worst Enemy?"

Over the long holiday weekend, I had a chance to catch up on some reading. Craig Harper's motivational blog had a couple thought-provoking articles: "Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs" Part 1 and Part 2. As I looked at my life and my office, I realized that it was filling up the last few years with things I never expected to be a part of my life: exhaustion, an extra ten pounds, unfinished writing projects, hobbies let go... Sounds depressing, doesn't it? Oddly enough, it's also the happiest time of my life. I'm starting to wonder if I thrived in the past on stress and adrenaline. While I don't miss being driven, I'd like to have the drive back! Why had so many parts of my personal and professional life seemingly gone backwards?

According to the self-limiting beliefs articles:
We all have core beliefs. Things which consciously or not, we have made to be truth in our mind. Some of those beliefs serve us well and are positives in our lives, while others simply get in the way of our potential and our possibilities. To a large extent our beliefs dictate our behaviours, which in turn determine the type of results we produce in our world. In many ways our beliefs become our reality. Even if only in our mind.

Something clicked as I read this. I was producing many different results in my life lately, results I wasn't particularly pleased with. What was I believing now that was different? What ideas were dictating my more lax behavior in so many areas? Definite food for thought and journaling. Is this happening in your life as well?
 
Here are (Craig Harper's) five great questions to ask yourself about your beliefs:
  1. What is my belief about this particular issue?
  2. Where did that belief come from?
  3. Does it empower me or limit me?
  4. Is it based in logic or emotion?
  5. Do I need to change it?

Part 2 of his article describes the ten lessons he learned from changing his defeatist beliefs. See if they don't resonate with you too. They did with me! I'm going to be giving a lot of thought to this idea in coming weeks--and how I can apply it to various areas of my life, including my writing career. What areas of your life would you like to see changed?

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

 

Friday, July 4, 2008

"Facing Your Creative Fears--Part 3"

(First read "Facing Your Creative Fears," Part 1 and Part 2.)
A Writer's Job Description
Susan Jeffers wrote a book some years ago called Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. The title says it all. It's okay to feel the emotion of fear; it doesn't mean we have to turn tail and run. If you study enough Eric Maisel creativity books, you'll come to believe that the anxiety is actually good, that it's pure energy at your disposal, ready to be harnessed for your creative work. Think of the fear like electricity. You can electrocute yourself with it, or channel it so that you light up a whole city. The fear/energy is the same. Writers need to learn how to use this creative fear energy wisely.

Do It Today!
Don't stay frozen. Tackle those fears. Start small. Celebrate each baby step taken as a victory. Don't hesitate to ask people for advice and encouragement. Study books. Listen to audio tapes. Read articles. Make banners or posters for your office. Leave Post-It notes on your computer. Use every means possible to remind yourself that you can conquer the thing that you fear. You've conquered fears in the past, and you can do it again! Don't let fear stand between you and the writing career of your dreams.

 

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

"Facing Your Creative Fears--Part 2"

(First read Part 1 of "Facing Your Creative Fears.")

3. Third, if your fears are real, face them squarely and deal with them. Do you really lack sufficient writing skills? If so, enroll in a course. Study writing books on your own. Analyze the books you love best to see how those authors did what they did. Take a public speaking course if you want to be a storyteller or give talks for groups. Take an assertiveness course or get help for your codependency if nasty family members really are holding you back from trying. Work to improve, but don't get caught in the "perfection trap" by accident. "It is indeed important to strive for excellence in creative endeavor," says Thomas Kinkade. "It's important to grow in skill, improve technique. But if we make a god of perfection, we risk pushing ourselves into a creative desert. We're afraid to try because we're afraid we won't be good."

"But I am afraid!" you say, terror creeping in around the edges of your voice. I know you are. I'll tell you a secret. We all are. We wear masks to hide it, but we all deal with the fear of writing. How? We learned, finally, to do the writing afraid. We learned that fear didn't have to stop us, that most things we could go ahead and do whether we were scared or not. We research, even if we're afraid our idea is overdone. We write rough drafts, even when we're afraid the whole thing stinks. We submit to publishers, even though we're afraid that editors cringe when they spot our name on a manuscript. Of course, the magic finally occurs. After many, many repetitions, the fear disperses. It almost disappears.

Just don't imagine that you can eradicate all your writing fears. As Ralph Keyes wrote in The Courage to Write, "Finding the courage to write does not involve erasing or conquering one's fears. Working writers aren't those who have eliminated their anxiety. They are the ones who keep scribbling while their heart races and their stomach churns, and who mail manuscripts with trembling fingers."

(Come back Friday for the final words on this topic.)

 

Monday, June 30, 2008

"Facing Your Creative Fears"

Every tomorrow has two handles,” Henry Ward Beecher once said. “We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” All our writing tomorrows give us that very same choice. Do we face our blank computer screens or empty tablets with fear or with faith? Faith encourages us and spurs us on. Fears paralyze—and need to be dealt with. Writing anxiety comes in many forms and develops for a variety of reasons. If we harbor writing fears, how can we identify them, eliminate them, then regain faith in our writing tomorrows?

Dealing with creative fears generally involves a three-part process.
1. First, identify the fears. Otherwise you’re only shadow boxing. What are you afraid of? That your ideas are stupid or overdone? That you don't have the talent to be a published writer? That your friends or family will ridicule you when they find out what you're trying to do? That you'll be rejected? That you'll be wasting your time, that being a writer is just a dream that will dissolve in the face of reality? That you'll never be more than a mid-list author on the brink of oblivion?

Writers have many fears, and this takes many new authors by surprise. “It's a vital thing to remember both as creative people and those who have the opportunity to nurture the creativity in others: Creativity requires courage!” says Thomas Kinkade in Lightposts for Living. “It takes courage to push ourselves off center, to think in nonstandard ways, to journey outside the ruts. It also takes courage to resist the pressure of those who very much prefer to walk in those ruts.”

2. Second, if your fears are just myths, debunk them. Write down and study your list of fears. Will your husband/wife really laugh at you for wanting to write? Do you really not have any talent? (What about your writing teacher or critique partner who loves your stories?) Will you really go insane like all the famous writers you've read about? (Well, actually, you might. . . just kidding!) In The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes says, “All writers must confront their fears eventually. The sooner they do this, the better their work will be.”

Besides, if you don’t, you’ll go from blocked to frozen, then give up. Quitting is failing. While none of us may ever totally conquer our writing fears—and some experts say that this writing “anxiety” is actually indispensable writing energy—we can rise above the fears sufficiently so that we can work. And in doing the work, day in and day out, the fears begin to dissolve. They become like the monster we were so sure, as children, that lurked under our bed. After enough years of NOT being eaten alive at night or being grabbed by the ankles when we jumped out of bed, we finally concluded the monster was in our imagination and forgot about it. Most of your writing fears will do the same thing IF you face them and feel them—and write anyway.
(Come back Wednesday for practical ways to deal with the fears.)

 

 

Friday, June 27, 2008

"Joining a Work in Progress--Part 2"

(First read "Joining a Work in Progress" Part 1.)

How to Critique
Encourage as well as offer criticism. It means walking a fine line, but you must have this crucial balance if you’re going to join and remain in a critique group. Encouragement is so important in a career that is, at least initially, filled with rejection. So when you join a critique group, remember that you are part of a support group, and some members will require more support than others. Unless you already know everyone in the group on an intimate level, hold back from talking too much at first. Some members will want tough, “no nonsense” critiques and “skip the fluff.” Others need their constructive criticism wrapped in extra layers of cotton to dull the effect. Don’t assume that people in the critique group will all respond to criticism the way you would.

On the other hand, when you are critiqued, don’t be touchy. Defensiveness is a HUGE waste of time. If you don’t agree with someone’s critique of your work, don’t spend time defending it. If it didn’t work for that reader, it didn’t. That doesn’t mean you have to change a word, but don’t argue about it.

Works in Progress
Secondly, the manuscripts you will be critiquing are also works in progress. If you are critiquing book manuscripts, that can be especially confusing. For example, when I joined one group, I was sent the middle chapters of several novels-in-progress, I had no idea what came before, so it was hard to critique. Was the plot building naturally? Were the characters behaving believably? I had no idea.

I would suggest, when joining a critique group, that you ask each writer for a one or two paragraph summary of what’s already happened in their book so you’re up to speed. Otherwise your critique can be less than helpful, and possibly irritating. (For example, you may think a minor character is described in too much detail, when in fact, it was revealed earlier to be the story’s villain who plays a key role. Every time something like this has to be explained to you during the meeting, it eats up valuable time.)

Do’s and Don’ts
Be sure that your attitude is really one of caring, even when you don’t like the manuscript. Point out the good spots and strengths you found first. Then give criticism so that it’s constructive. Get your points across without being overly harsh or critical though. Find the balance! Be more quiet than normal the first critique session as you watch how other members handle this sensitive issue. However, you do need to learn how to express constructive criticism in a way that it can be received. Be kind in your criticism. At the same time it is important to the writer to hear everything, not just the praise. Otherwise how can they improve? Give them something to go home and work on so the critique time is productive.

Critique groups are valuable, and finding a good one already “in progress” is a joy. With a few common sense tips and attitudes, you’ll slip in without making a ripple (instead of creating tidal waves.) In a few short weeks, it’ll be as if you’d always belonged.

 

 

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

"Joining a Work in Progress--Part 1"


 
One piece of advice new writers hear is “join a critique group!” They’re immensely valuable in today’s publishing climate where editors have so little time to edit and shape manuscripts. You may be fortunate to find a group with an opening and be invited to join. Unless you’re prepared, however, your critique group experience can be useless or even painful. If you step on enough toes, you could be asked to leave the group. To avoid that, follow these tips so you can join a critique group and make it work for you.

Group in Progress
When you join a critique group in progress, you’re joining an established “family.” The group itself is a growing thing, and adding you to the group changes the dynamics. You, the new kid on the block, need to fit in without creating unnecessary disruption for the group. Remember: the group has been functioning very well without you, and you’re not there to revamp it.

First, don’t assume anything. Ask what length your manuscript should be for the sessions. In one new group I joined, I assumed (for some reason) that about 2,000words (or a book chapter) would be a good length. I emailed the manuscript to each member a week before the scheduled meeting. Within a few days, I was surprised to receive from the other members manuscripts closer to 500-600 words. I had unknowingly asked them to spend four times as long critiquing my work as everyone else’s. I was embarrassed, and some of the members were put out.

Also, don’t assume you should (or should not) bring a manuscript for critiquing at the first meeting. At one group I did not bring a manuscript the first time, thinking I hadn’t yet “earned the right,” and was told in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t allowed to critique anyone that day since I hadn’t put my own writing (and ego) on the line. So, after moving to another town and joining another critique group, I dutifully took a manuscript with me, only to discover that I was expected to just listen the first time. (I didn’t last long there!) So don’t assume anything. Ask the group ahead of time for any rules they have about how the meeting is run. It will save awkwardness and hurt feelings.

Attendance
Don’t join unless you can be at all the meetings (except for true emergencies.) A good group member is dedicated. If you expect to give thoughtful criticism to someone’s novel, then you must be there to hear it all.
(On Friday I'll talk about the nuts and bolts of joining a group in progress and getting up to speed with their work.)
 

Monday, June 23, 2008

"Career Planning: Who, Me?"

Most of us are too busy trying to juggle our writing, day jobs and families to think much about a career planning strategy. We're focused on trying to either break in or keep up with contract deadlines. I got a jolt today by a lengthy (and excellent) post by agent Chip MacGregor that made me realize how important it was to have a career plan--and review it often. If you're fortunate enough to have Chip for an agent, he goes through these career planning steps with you. He was kind enough to outline his method, though, for anyone who wants to see it. Even without an agent, I'd suggest tackling these questions and strategies on your own.
 

In Chip's own words: My contention is that some agents pay lip service to "helping authors with career planning," but many don't really have a method for doing that. (From the look of it, "career planning" to many agents is defined as "having a book contract.") I have a background in organizational development -- the study of how organizations grow and change over time. And during my doctoral program at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!), I served as a Graduate Teaching Fellow at the Career Planning and Placement Office. That experience allowed me the opportunity to apply the principles of organizational theory to the real-world setting of those in the arts who are trying to make a living.


 
Chip talks with his clients to discover answers to the following points--and many others: Who is the author--what's her message, her platform, and her experience with the media? What are the author's significant life events and accomplishments, strengths, gifts, and burdens? What's important to the author? How does he define success? What does she need to change? What do they want t0 accomplish? Chip talks with his clients about personal organization. Every author needs a TIME to write, a PLACE to write, and a GOAL that he or she is writing toward. Do they have a plan in place? Do they have a writing calendar, so they know what and when they are working on each project? He encourages authors to create a budgeting calendar. (See his blog for the steps on how to create one.) Then Chip and his client make an actual writing plan for the next two years and the next five years that matches up with their life purpose. Does it maximize their strengths? Is their spouse in agreement with it all? What's the point of all this discussion with a client? According to Chip: These things all work together to create a career map for an author. Various documents are derived from this information -- a writing calendar, a budget, a wish list, maybe a statement of purpose. But my goal isn't to get an author to write some grand purpose statement -- my goal is to help an author create a workable plan he or she can use to move forward in the career. I aim to keep writers results-focused.

 
The second half of Chip's blog talked about making a writing budget--the nuts and bolts of figuring out how much income you need, where it's going to come from (all possible sources,) and what to do to get it. You'll want to study this too.

 
Even though I went through a branding course and made a budget and wrote down goals eighteen months ago, I need to go through Chip's questions in writing again and see where I am--and if I'm still headed in the right direction. We can take career detours without meaning to--and at such a pace that we barely notice. Answering the career planning questions can help you get back on track if you've veered off. I was accustomed to my budget needing constant revision, but I hadn't realized my career plan probably needed updating too.

 
Does your plan need revision too (meaning anything from tweaking it up a notch to a major overhaul in time and attitude)? What parts do you find most challenging in creating such a plan? Are you able to follow through on your plans? That's where the rubber meets the road!

 

Friday, June 20, 2008

"Ageless Wisdom--Part 2"



 
 
We hear endlessly about how much easier it was to get published and make a living as a writer years ago. Is that a misconception too? Jim wrote, “Were I starting over, I’d know that, before I could hope to earn a living writing, I’d have to serve a long apprenticeship.” Even so, it was simpler then, right? There were quiet, well behaved “Leave It to Beaver” families that made writing so much easier. Maybe. Maybe not. Jim’s experience sounded very familiar: “I would set aside some time each day for writing and adhere rigorously to my schedule,” he said. “I’d make sure of privacy; I’d go into the garage, a shed, or out under a tree. When I decided that writing was the only career that would ever satisfy me, I was working full time in a factory. But I allotted two hours every night for writing.”

Hmmm. Those “good old days” don’t sound much different than the present days. Of course, the “odds of making it as a writer” were certainly much better back then. Writers in the ‘50’s weren’t discouraged (like we are today) by being warned that only 5% of the authors in America make a living at writing. Or were they? Kjelgaard wrote that if he had it to do all over again, “I would not fear competition as such. The very loose statement that there are millions of aspiring writers in the United States means merely that there are millions who write an hour a week, an hour a month, or even an hour a year. But only a very few work hard enough to become professionals.” I would venture to say that it’s just as true today.

One Shocking Difference
By and large, the advice in that 1956 Writer’ Digest is just as applicable today as it was then. I think we can stop harking back to the good old days.

Not everything was the same in 1956 however. In “letters to the editor,” I found a lengthy apology. A magazine had folded without paying for all the articles it had accepted. The editor (who had quit) apologized profusely to writers who were cheated out of their money and offered to do whatever he could to help them collect! Oh, and the name of the magazine that cheated the writers? Honest to Pete, it was called Frauds & Rackets!

 

 

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

"Ageless Wisdom--Part 1"

At a recent retreat, several writer friends were waxing nostalgic, longing for the “good old days” of publishing. Back then it was easier to get published. Back then it was common to have editorial attention and hand-holding. If only we could go back, they lamented. Well, recently I had a rare chance to time travel back to the “good old days” and see what a writer’s life was like 52 years ago . . .

Writing Circa 1950’s
While sorting donated books and magazines for a library book sale, I came across a real treasure: a 1956 Writer’s Digest. Priced at 35 cents, it was a far cry from the large glossy print magazine or colorful web site of today. I wondered if any writers in 1956 had envisioned the e-zines and e-publishing of today, the huge publishing conglomerates, writing with computers, or the differences in pay scales. (I found references to one-tenth-cent, quarter-cent, and half-cent-per-word rates!) The rates might sound puny, but a quick glance through the market listings showed that most magazines still paid on acceptance.

Ahhh, I thought, another world. I was eager to read the articles next, to see what “wisdom of the ages” was dispensed for such a different writing world.

The more things change...
As I thumbed through the yellowed magazine pages, however, I was surprised by a number of things. First were the numerous ads for co-operative publishing and subsidy publishing (or vanity presses). For some reason, I had assumed they were a plague of the ‘90’s and early 21st Century writing world, an answer for the age we lived in where it was so difficult to sell a manuscript to a “big name” publisher or even a small press.

My second surprise was a full-page ad on the back of the magazine for a bookdoctor, something else I had believed to be the result of present market realities.The ad read: “Sure, you’re going to be an author. But right now you are having ahard time making folks believe it! Friends and neighbors regard your literary ambitions with a quiet smile, but members of the family are less subtle. Not only are you getting no help from them—you aren’t even being encouraged. One day you’ll show ‘em. But what can you show until you have a published book? And how can a book become publishable in today’s selective market without professional counsel?” Sound familiar? Every word of this book doctor’s ad is just as true in 2008 as it was in 1956!

A Writer’s Life in the Good Old Days
My biggest surprises came in an article called “Roses and Thorns” by Jim Kjelgaard (a juvenile writer). He reflected on his 25 years of writing, which had begun in the early depression years. It would be hard to find a writer whose experiences were further removed from mine than someone who began writing after the crash on Wall Street. Or would it?

I was shocked to find out how much we had in common. For example, Jim’s thoughts on writing only when inspiration strikes sounded identical to the advice I gave a new writer last month. He wrote of “the grueling discipline, the long hours spent over their typewriters” that was required. He called writing “an exacting job that often requires many more hours of hard work than most jobs. . . All the successful writers I know are successful mainly because they work hard,” not because they only wrote when inspired. Not any different today.

At least a writer could publish in a variety of genres back then: fiction, nonfiction, essays, slice-of-life stories, western short stories, mystery short stories. There were so many more publishers of fiction, both for books and for magazines. And yet, doesn’t this 1956 advice sound very familiar? “There are few writers who can play the field all their lives,” Kjelgaard writes. “For most of us, it’s just a way of learning what we can do best and, more to the point, like best. I sold at least 500 stories and articles to all types of publications-from ¼ cent-a-word pulps to 50 cent-a-word slicks before I decided that juveniles were for me.” So specialize and write what you like best? Advice that is right on target today.

(I'll add some more on Friday about how hard it was to get published in the "good old days." You'll be surprised.)

 

 

Monday, June 16, 2008

"Book Buyer's Paradise"

If you buy as many books as I do (for yourself, your kids, or your grandkids), you'll want to know about this FREE online source. It has a lot of great features, including a wish list you can create so they can let you know when a good deal pops up on any particular book. (I just may buy up a few of my out-of-print hardcovers for the grandkids while I'm at it.) Here's the info:

BookFinder4U is a FREE service that searches 130 bookstores, 80,000 booksellers and 90 million new & used books worldwide to find the lowest book price in A click! At Bookfinder4U, our goal is simple: to provide you with a book search and price comparison service that is Comprehensive, Objective and Easy to use. We also have an out-of-print book search system to help you find rare & out-of-print books.

By becoming a valued member, you can also enjoy the following additional features:1. Create and share your Wish List, keeping track of the books you're interested in. Set Price Alert and you won't miss any more deals. Also create Tags to organize all your favorite books.2. Write store reviews and book reviews and join our ever-growing community. 3. Enjoy your personalized Search History
and get better searching experience. 4. Best of all, everything is absolutely FREE.

 

 

Friday, June 13, 2008

"More Words of Wisdom"

I've enjoyed reviewing my own computer monitor sayings this week, as well as reading those you've shared. Here are the last ones for a while:

Suzuki: "Our mind always follows our breathing." If you're tense during writing and either hold your breath or hyperventilate, your writing will show it. Your mind will freeze while you hold your breath, or bounce around aimlessly while you hyperventilate. So breathe. Deeply. If you're a rapid breather when stressed, deliberately slow down your breathing. Your mind will follow your breathing, becoming regular and functional and calm, a helpful mental state for productive writing.

Keep on starting, and the finishing will take care of itself. This is especially helpful to repeat over and over when writing a book. Looking ahead at all the research to do, or all the chapters to write, can be daunting. So daunting, in fact, that you're blocked and can't get started. So don't worry about finishing. Don't even think about how much you have left to write. Just start. Today. Tomorrow. The next day. Keep on starting, and the finishing will take care of itself.

This too shall pass. Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22 This is good for dealing with rejections, bad reviews, writer's block, and hearing that your friend (the one who doesn't write as well as you do) just had her book optioned for a movie and she's being flown out to Hollywood to oversee the script writing. These are all burdens that will weigh down your writing if you try to carry them yourself. Get rid of them.

If any of these bits of wisdom struck a chord with you, copy them down and tape them to your computer. Find additional reminders that fit your own personal needs, tape them to your monitor, and repeat them to yourself when stuck. It's simple, but it works!

 

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

"More Words of Wisdom"


On Monday, I posted a few sayings that are taped to the edges of my monitor. Here are a few more...


THE SENILITY PRAYER: "God, grant me the Senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones that I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference." Perhaps you have to be over 40something to appreciate this one, but it's so true. Forget the fight you had with your spouse or child that morning. Forget the hard feelings you have for that writer who sold her first novel that you know isn't half as good as your novel that just got rejected the fourth time. Spending much time and energy on people who upset you emotionally will drain the energy needed for your writing. (Take it from someone whose pen name is N. Abler.) Forget them and move on!

Transformation comes from the inside out. Pasting wings on a worm does not make a butterfly. We want our writing to fly, but sometimes it crawls around on the ground, or at best, limps along. Pasting wings on it—using more colorful verbs, using cliff-hanger endings—won't change that story into a butterfly if the basic idea is—well—wormy. Transformation comes from the inside out. We may have to sit with an idea, get inside it, get to its core, discover its real theme, before the transformation can take place. But pasting wings on a flawed story (like a flawed relationship) will NOT make a butterfly.

A Snoopy cartoon shows him typing on top of his dog house. The thought balloon over his head says, "It's exciting when you've written something that you know is good!" Occasionally, we write something that truly sings. We re-read our stories, when suddenly phrases (sometimes whole paragraphs!) jump off the page and we're stunned. Did I really write that? we think. Yes, it's exciting when you've written something that you know is good. Enjoy the excitement. Know that there's more good writing where that came from.


Please continue to share your computer monitor wisdom with me--either here or in an email. I love it! I'll post the last tidbits on Friday.
 

Monday, June 9, 2008

"Words of Wisdom"

You can tell a lot about people by how their homes are decorated. I've discovered you can tell just as much about writers by how their computers are decorated. Until I recently replaced my monitor, I hadn't noticed how covered it was with bits of writing wisdom. But as I removed the little sayings to tape to my new monitor, I re-read and re-learned the writing wisdom there. So, from my computer to yours, some writing words to live by ...

I haven't lost my mind; it's backed up on disk somewhere. This bit of wisdom is for the days when my computer, which I love second only to God and family, is acting up. When your computer crashes while you're sending e-mail or conducting online research, you feel like you've lost your mind. When you've stared too many hours at your blinking cursor, you can feel as if you've lost your mind. When you've had to re-start your story after sixteen interruptions, you're sure you've lost your mind. But never fear: it's backed up on disk somewhere!

Be tough at the core, easy at the edges. This wise saying is for negotiating with editors. You must know your bottom line. What's most important to you? What is non-negotiable, and where can you be flexible? In dealings with editors, be firm about critical issues, but very easy to get along with where your edges touch theirs. My daughter is the epitome of this wise saying, being sweet and soft spoken and adjustable in many things—but she has a backbone made out of pure steel.

When I begin to think, I begin to sink. Sometimes we writers think too much. Obviously, we need to think, but sometimes we do ourselves more harm than good. I know. I speak from years of experience. Whether it's second guessing yourself about a writing project, or trying too hard to read between the lines ("What did that editor really mean by 'it doesn't meet our present needs'?"), thinking too much can sink our writing ship. We can be fired up about an idea, have the story half finished, then begin to take our stupid thoughts too seriously. (You know the ones. They say things like, "Why are you wasting your time on this piece of drivel?") Stay afloat in your writing by refusing to over-analyze everything.
That's just a bit of my computer wisdom. I'll post more later. What do YOU have taped to the edge of your computer?

 

 

Friday, June 6, 2008

"Twenty Reasons to Go on a Writing Retreat"

The last few posts I've talked about writing retreats and recovering our creative spirit. There are many fine books on organizing retreats, but I've been enjoying Judy Reeves' book The Writer's Retreat Kit because it is so practical. It can be used by someone with oodles of time and money--or a writer with no money and little time at her disposal. The kit has "themed" retreat ideas on most of the big cards, but the first card simply lists "Twenty Reasons to Go on a Writing Retreat." I won't give them all, but here are a few to get you started...

*To renew your creative spirit

*To change your perspective

*To unkink the coils of your brain

*To fill your empty cup

*To rest

*To read

*To write

Do you want to go on a writing retreat? What are your reasons?

 

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

"Alone Again--on a Retreat"


 
My attention was caught just now by two quotes printed on the inside of the "retreat in a box" called The Writer's Retreat Kit by Judy Reeves. I've been reading bits of it for several days now, planning my own mini retreat and perhaps setting one up with writer friends. This "box" of ideas is just perfect for those of us who crave a retreat but might be hampered by monetary or health concerns that make it more feasible to stick close to home.

 
I opened the box and read the first quote: "During sessions of solitude, periods of silence, or 'time retreats,' we shun life's chattering distractions and simply notice what is left: ourselves." (Helen Cordes) My first reaction was to think, "Total joy!" My second reaction coming close on the heels of the first was, "Hmmmm...do I really want to face myself with no distractions?" I've noticed this past year that even when tired and run down, I stay too busy with distractions (most of them good and/or helpful to others.) It's been a difficult writing year in some respects, with a publisher going into hiding (literally) with the money they owed me, some projects going belly up when an editor lost her job, things like that. If you stay in publishing long enough, these things just happen. But without pausing to digest those disappointments and a few others, I'd just pushed ahead faster and harder. Maybe this past year I'd avoided resting and retreating because I had some things I didn't want to face... things that might surface in solitude. Food for thought anyway.

 
The other quote left me feeling hopeful though: "With the rest of the world pared away, a clear vision of long-buried beliefs and dreams takes center stage and anything seems possible." (Margo Rabb) That's one of the best reasons (in my opinion) for making time to slow down. In the rush-rush of living life and "being there" for others, we so often lose sight of those original dreams. A retreat--and the solitude that accompanies it--just might resurrect those dreams! It's certainly worth a try.

 

Monday, June 2, 2008

"Retreating with Friends"

Retreat... Just saying the word is soothing. While it is taking some planning and shifting of events, I believe later in June I'll be able to carve out three days for a personal writing retreat. Given the price of gas, though, I'm looking seriously at Judy's ideas for how to do a retreat at home. It takes a bit of planning and preparation, but infinitely do-able! (I'm referrring to the book I've blogged about lately, The Writer's Retreat Kit: A Guide for Creative Exploration and Personal Expression by Judy Reeves.)

After I do a mini retreat on my own, I'm thinking about trying one later in the summer with a writing friend or two. This quote from her book is what got me to thinking: "For some of us, much of the joy of going on a writing retreat comes from spending time with other writers. Who else truly understands our need for solitude, our particular quirkiness, our mutterings and frustrations, our joys and disappointments? Who else speaks our language and comprehends the nuances of our silences? Other writers are our creative soulmates, kindred spirits, members of the same tribe. Not all writers, mind you, but those particular few whom we've come to know and love and trust with our tender hearts. Going on a writing retreat with a few chosen others, or a single best writer-friend, can deepen our connection with one another and with our writing."

Doesn't that sound heavenly? What about you? Is there a favorite writer-friend that you'd enjoy having along for a mini retreat of one day or two? If you had it at someone's home, it wouldn't have to cost anything. They could even go home to their own comfy bed at night. Retreating from 9-5, with plenty of time for writing exercises, solitude, journaling, talking, eating, walking (and writing on your novel if you felt so moved) would be a rejuvenating experience with the right people. I'm going to give this some thought and see what my writing friends think!

 

Friday, May 30, 2008

"Writing Retreats Re-Defined"

 
Most of us have preconceived ideas of what a "writer's retreat" would look like for us. Anything outside that box (we think) just wouldn't fill the bill. That's what I believed, until I continued to read the book I've blogged about lately, The Writer's Retreat Kit: A Guide for Creative Exploration and Personal Expression by Judy Reeves. She challenges writers to think of retreats in other ways--and thus to see the possibilities around us to create such retreats. Chew on this quote for the weekend and see what you come up with.

Much as I believe that the idea of a writing retreat will always include Time Away Alone (I expect secluded mountain cabins or pri­vate, distant seashores will also remain in our writer's mind's eye), I also believe it is possible for each of us to create other, less extensive writing retreats that can refill and restore us, that can be containers enabling us to produce new work and to open us to creative expres­sion and that allow us to dip into the solitude we need to communi­cate with our inner selves.
 

*Consider that a writing retreat is not necessarily a place, but a concept.
*Consider the word retreat not as a noun but a verb.
*Consider time not as a measure in length, but in depth.
*Consider the idea of being alone not as being distant from people but as not allowing others to intrude on your solitude.

In other words, let loose all those old ideas about what is nec­essary for a writing retreat to be "real," and open your mind and heart to another way of giving yourself this gift of love.

 

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

"Retreat Time: Is It Possible?"

I'm still reading my "retreat in a box" kit called The Writer's Retreat Kit: A Guide for Creative Exploration and Personal Expression by Judy Reeves that I mentioned last week. I am contemplating the following--and what it might mean.

A writing retreat isn't just about the time spent writing. Perhaps equally important as the time spent writing is the time given over to nourishment... For many writers, a retreat is a time for reconnecting with nature, for long walks in quiet woods or beside a restless seashore, for rowing on a lake or canoeing on a river. We long for a soundtrack of birdsong or trickling creek, for the lazy sway of a hammock beneath a shading tree, for a rocking chair on a generous porch, mint tea, a glass of wine or fresh, sweet water within reach. We want someone to bring us lunch. A retreat is a quiet place (except for the birds or maybe the profound purring of cat on lap), and when the time is right and good and when we are ready, it is writing.

After my next deadline is met in mid-June, I am seriously considering giving myself this "gift of time" that such a retreat would take. It wouldn't have to be expensive--or even cost anything at all. I live near a pond and greenbelt area to walk in, I have a porch with a swing and three rockers, and I can fix the tea. It's the time that will cost me--time away from people and expectations and deadlines. Right now, after so many years of writing to deadline, I can barely fathom what it would feel like to retreat like this and not write until I really felt called back to it.

But oh! What an idea!

 

Monday, May 26, 2008

"Memorial Day, 2008"

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! For every military man or woman--including my daughter, Laurie, deployed in Iraq--we love you and are so proud of you. To see and hear something that will stir your very soul, turn up your sound and click here:
 

Friday, May 23, 2008

"Let's All Say Ahhhhh..."

Even when life is going well, the writing pressures, the marketing, the waiting, and the deadlines can make you dream of taking a writing retreat. For several years, I've had on my book shelf a "book in a box" called The Writer's Retreat Kit: A Guide for Creative Exploration and Personal Expression by Judy Reeves. I've looked longingly at it several times and read some of her ideas of creating writer's retreats lasting from twenty minutes to several days, depending on the time and money you have available.

This time, though, I'm not going to sigh and put the book box back. I'm going to delve deeper into the retreat idea and try some of the experiences. I have no logical reason to feel as burned out as I do, but when I read the following opening page, I let out a big Ahhhhhh! I bet you will too. Judy writes:

Getting away: the wish and dream and fantasy of every writer I have ever known and, I expect, of nearly every writer I will ever meet, except for those rare and blessed souls who are lucky enough, or determined enough, or rich enough, to already be "away."

What is "away"? It is someplace else. It is the place that each of us craves, and when we close our eyes, comes to us in all its wooded shadiness or vast, unending blueness. We visualize a mountain cabin; a cottage by the sea; a secret, hidden monastery; a wide-decked, win­dowed, pillowed, sweet-smelling, abundant, nurturing, solitary place where there are no "musts" or "have tos" or "shoulds." No dishes to do or phones to answer or children/mates/partners with whom we must interact. No set time to start or stop, to wake up or go to sleep. No television. No email. No deadlines. No place to drive to. It is sim­ply a place to be.

"Away" is generally where we long to be as we arm wrestle the elements of our daily lives to make time for our writing and for that private and soulful part of us that we long to be with but so often set aside.

It is not that we don't love our lives; we do. Mostly. And we love the people in our lives — family and friends — and the work we do that allows us to afford the lives we mostly love. What we want is to get away for a little while. We don't want to just go on vacation, but to a place we go alone, or maybe with a few like-minded souls who also want to be alone, but in an alone/together way. To renew and refresh and explore and create and refill. To retreat. And to write.

A writing retreat.


I'll be sharing more about this idea--and my experiences--in the coming days and weeks. I expect to emerge from my retreat experiences a new woman! (Well, at least a refreshed writer...)

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

"Contact Made Easy"

Do you have trouble receiving email from people who try to contact you through your website? Me too--until now. You may be generating a lot more email from your website than you think--you're just not receiving it.

I've had a personal website for years, and I have two more websites for book series, but I've had the same problem with them all--until recently. At a writing conference at Mt. Hermon in March, one tech-savvy gal explained the problem--and the cure. For reasons unfathomable to me, those mailto: links often don't work. They try to generate default email programs that won't send the email. (I know they don't work--I've asked numerous friends to send me an email from my websites. Only ONE email got through out of six.) Important email from friends, fans, book buyers, and event planners often don't get to you. Hopefully, that problem is a thing of the past. And the fix is FREE. Instead of using a mailto: link, get a free "Email Me" form.

I Googled "email forms" to find several choices, and I settled on EmailMe.com because it was very easy to use. I chose the simple, standard form, but when time permits, I may go back and tweak the colors and fonts. It was so easy to install! And it even makes sure that you have a "thank you" page link so the person knows their email went through.

I love when I find things that make life easier--especially when the process is fairly painless and free.

 

 

Monday, May 19, 2008

"New Website Up!"

Over the weekend I created a website specifically for my Boarding School Mystery series. I hope you’ll take a look at it and let me know what you think. The four middle-grade mysteries should be in the bookstores within a couple weeks. Although I have resisted the marketing push talked about so much lately, I have to admit that designing simple websites is getting easier. I use FrontPage, self-taught with the free online tutorials, and each time it is less intimidating—and faster. Someday I may have a professionally designed site, but for now, I’m glad to have it up and running!

 

 

Friday, May 16, 2008

"Frog Hunting"

Does anyone else feel the constant push-pull between their commitment to writing and their commitment to their families? I was just talking about this yesterday with another busy writing friend. We're both empty nesters now, and we both expected to spend endless hours writing every day. Take out the hours needed for website work and other book promotion (speaking, teaching workshops, signings, etc.) and, in theory, there are still about five hours per day to write. If you exercise, then make it four. Four would work, as long as you spent evening and weekends reading about the craft of writing and reading current books in your genre.
Hmmm...

Where's family fit in? Although my kids are grown, I have two girls living in this town and both my grandchildren. I love spending time with them more than anything else. I want to invest in their lives--and they're just plain fun to be with!

The point of all this?

I have two deadlines that I am behind on. I've put in tons of hours on both projects, but they are coming along more slowly than I'd anticipated. Even so...today I'm quitting early and taking my grandkids (ages 2 and 5) down to the pond to go frog hunting. It's rained three times this week, and the tiny half-inch frogs should be hopping!

Could I get more writing done if I stayed in my office this afternoon and evening? Yes. Do I feel guilty about the fun I'm going to have with my grandkids, or the bonding time this evening, the hugs and kisses, watching an episode of "Little House on the Prairie," and popping popcorn? Not one bit!

Work hard at your writing, yes--but don't let it mix up your priorities.

 

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

"Avoiding Publisher Scams"

Nearly every month I hear (in person or by email) from an author who's been scammed by a new publisher or a very small publisher. Before considering an offer from a new or small press, I'd recommend reading HOW TO TELL IF A NEW OR SMALL PRESS IS LEGITIMATE on the Write4Kids website.

I agreed with everything she said in this fine article until the last line. She wrote: "It's not possible to follow all these steps, of course, if the publisher is new and hasn't produced its first list. In that case you could ask to contact some other authors or illustrators the publisher is working with, and get their impressions of the company. By and large, most new publishers are legitimate, sincere and dedicated professionals, and are not a bad risk for the author or illustrator. These people will not object to your researching the company. Those who do should be approached with caution."

I sincerely believe that if a new company objects to you contacting its authors and illustrators to research them, then you should not approach them at all. It's no different than the Don Juan who objects to you wanting to meet his family and friends before you marry him. If they have nothing to hide, they'll be happy to have you research them. If they've got something to hide, run (don't walk) to the nearest exit. (I speak from experience here--I got scammed last year and lost $5,000 owed me. It didn't matter that I had a contract and they had my full manuscript either. At one point the publisher got very upset that I had talked to another of their authors. I should have taken that as a big red flag and backed out early.)
 

Monday, May12, 2008

"The New Foreign Language"

My son-in-law knows that I'm always looking for free programs online, so when he finds things of interest, he sends them along. I realized last week that I now knew (and sometimes spoke) a foreign language. "Do you use Weebly or Zillow?" I was asked. "No Weebly yet, but I do Zillow. I'm also learning to Twitter, but I'm not sure if I need to Jott yet."

Confused? Then check out these free services--and you'll be speaking the new language fluently in no time!

Jott: With a free account, Jott converts your voice into emails, text messages, reminders, lists and appointments.

Weebly: Create a free website and blog, host it for free, easy to create and maintain, even host your existing domain for free!

Zillow: Wonder what your house is worth? Type in your address--or anyone else's--and get your home's worth, an aerial photo of the neighborhood, the real estate values of homes in the area, and much more. Great free service for house buyers and sellers.

Twitter: Another social networking site that's free and easy to use. "Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

Good luck!

 

 

Friday, May 9, 2008

"Do You Need Inspiration?"

Madeleine L’Engle {Herself} is a book of reflections on the writing life, excerpted from the works of one of our finest writers. In this volume you will find hundreds of Madeleine L’Engle’s most illuminating statements about writing, creativity, and the writing life, including material from her workshops and speeches that was never published before. L’Engle was the author of more than 50 books, including the Newbery Medal-winner A Wrinkle in Time, the American Book Award-winner A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and the inspirational book for writers Walking on Water. In ten topical sections, Madeleine L’Engle {Herself} mixes marvelous pointers on technical craft issues with her reflections on the mystery of writing. Read a page each morning before you write, or (if you’re like me) sit down and read straight through it, then go back and savor each page’s gems.

 

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

"Another Classic Writers Book"

If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland is a classic, and one of the very best books for writers ever written. I had forgotten how good it was until I re-read it over the weekend. Frankly, if you can only afford to ever buy one writing book, get this one. It’s that good. Brenda Ueland said she had two rules she followed absolutely when writing: to tell the truth, and not to do anything she didn’t want to do. This shines through in her best-selling classic that has already inspired thousands to find their own creative center. Carl Sandburg called this book “the best book ever written about how to write.” I’ve read dozens of writing books, and this is one of my two all-time favorites. I need to re-read it about every six months. Find a copy for yourself today.

 

 

Monday, May 5, 2008

"What's on YOUR Book Shelf?"

I'm often asked what writing books are my favorites--and which I recommend. There are hundreds, but this week I'll highlight a few that I read and re-read for inspiration.
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Writing from the Inside Out by Dennis Palumbo is about “transforming your psychological blocks to release the writer within.” It’s not a how-to book with rules and formulas, but it provides valuable insights and practical tools for the working and/or would-be writer. It covers all the things that can (and have) stopped writers in their tracks: procrastination, doubt, fear of failure, loneliness, envy, the rejection blues, keeping your perspective, burnout, commitment to your writing, and other daily struggles of writers. You can tell when a book for writers has been written by an author who has actually dealt successfully with these issues—and Writing from the Inside Out is definitely one of those books. Palumbo has some of the best suggestions I’ve read for dealing with “real life” and maintaining your writing life in spite of it. Perhaps because he is also a licensed psychotherapist, he hits the nail on the head when it comes to dealing with these issues—and he manages to inject a good dose of humor with it!

 

Friday, May 2, 2008

"Dealing with Disappointment" (Part 3)

(First read "Dealing with Disappointment" Part 1 and Part 2)

Trust Your Calm Inner Response
Settle down, then look inside yourself for your adult response. The little kid in you has had his/her day and internally ranted and raved, but the grown-up in you usually knows the best course of action to take, if you’ll just listen to him or her. The adult response may not be what we want to hear. The child in us wants to respond in retaliation to a perceived hurt or outright attack (on our writing or some other aspect of our life.) Retaliating rarely helps, no matter how much your loyal best friend urges you “not to take that lying down!” If you’ll listen, your calmer inner adult will know—and tell you—how to respond appropriately without starting World War III. Respond to the disappointment in a manner that is also best for the other person. How? Without accusation or causing embarrassment to the other person, and without seeking any kind of revenge. People will disappoint us. Sometimes quite badly. None of us is perfect. The disappointment for you will lift—along with the writing doldrums—if you can follow this advice.

Battlefield of the Mind
Last, don’t focus on the hurt or the person or the disappointment. Literally remove your mind from the subject. Shove it to the back burner for now. Dwelling on the disappointing incident will magnify it, and thus magnify your pain, and thus prolong your writing block or lethargy. If you must think about it—if the situation demands attention—then search for a silver lining. See what the disappointment can teach you, or how you can stretch and grow because of it. But don’t focus on the disappointment itself. Look beyond it. “This too shall pass,” and it will pass faster if you don’t concentrate on it. In the meantime—while you cool down and relax—you can also get a lot of writing done.
 

 

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

"Dealing with Disappointment" (Part 2)

(First read "Dealing with Disappointment" Part 1)

Delay or Suspend Judgment
Many disappointments are totally out of our control. They just happen. Someone doesn’t show up on time—or at all. The story or book that an editor was so excited about gets rejected after nine months. Our department at work is down-sized and our income shrinks along with it. A grown sibling or neighbor spreads nasty, untrue rumors about you. Whatever the disappointment is, don’t be too quick to judge the person’s conduct (or the apparent conduct of the person) who has disappointed you. Often what we see is not what is going on.

We usually don’t understand why this person is behaving in this manner. We seldom have all the facts of the situation. So choose to suspend judgment and criticism until a later time. When a disappointment occurs, always assume you don’t know all the facts or extenuating circumstances. 99% of the time, your assumption will be accurate. Delay any judging and criticizing or reacting till you know the facts—just put a lid on it for now.

Take Time to Think
Our initial reaction to a disappointing situation—what comes naturally to most of us—may not be the best response. In fact, if you don’t take time to think (or better yet, sleep on it and pray for God’s perspective and wisdom) your reaction can cause a whole string of further (and worse) regrets to deal with. We’ve all seen and participated in not-so-serious discussions that erupted into angry fights, multiplying the stressful event tenfold. Oftentimes, when the dust has settled and a calm discussion of the event takes place days later, misunderstandings are apparent on both sides. So don’t allow a disappointment—no matter its size—to escalate.

Be Verbal!
Unspoken expectations also come into play. Before you react negatively to a disappointment (“Why couldn’t he keep the kids out of my hair just one hour today so I could write?”), be sure that you actually verbalized your hopes or expectations. No one is a good mind reader. If you didn’t ask your husband to keep the kids out of your hair so you could write, you can’t assume that he knows they’re bothering you or that you have trouble writing with a million interruptions. He’s used to watching you cook, clean, garden and drive carpool while handling umpteen questions from little ones. He may not know, without being told, that your writing is different and needs peace and quiet. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment—and a ruined weekend—because you didn’t speak up and then got angry because he didn’t read your mind. (Return for Part 3 and more solutions next.)
 

 

Monday, April 28, 2008

"Dealing with Disappointment"

Disappointments come in all shapes and sizes, and they can thoroughly derail our urge to write. The disappointments might be writing related (like a dismal writing session, or receiving a rejection.) Non-writing disappointments also impact our ability to focus and be creative (the loss of a friendship, your child in trouble at school again, something doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped.) A cloud hovers over us. Spirits droop. How can we keep writing after experiencing a disappointment?

First of all, we can stop waiting for the magical day when disappointments no longer o