inspiration

A Writer’s Perfect Week

Published on by Kristi Holl
Writer friends from our local ACFW

It has been a writer’s perfect week. I wish I had a word for it! A perfect storm (of which I’ve experienced many over the years) is a “particularly bad state of affairs, arising from a number of negative  factors,” according to the dictionary. But this week was the opposite: a writer’s perfect week.

While I don’t believe a picture is worth a thousand words (or I wouldn’t be in this business), I love photos that tell stories too, so they’re sprinkled throughout.

Two Big Events

Two things made this such a great week: a national writers’ conference last weekend, and my research trip to England tomorrow!

Hyatt Regency

I’m president of our local branch of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), and this past week was our National ACFW conference. We met downtown at the Riverwalk. (That is a view from my room.) As host city, we were responsible for a few things, like transportation for VIPs. (Thank you again, Bruce Judisch!)

 

Milestone Pin award

On Thursday night I was surprised before the dinner by receiving a “Milestone Pin” for having had more than 50 books published with traditional publishers. My friend’s photo caught us as we left the stage. 

Incredible Speakers

Frank Peretti

The speakers this year were superb, and it was an honor to sit under the teaching of authors I had admired and read for decades. They were all so generous with their time and “secrets of the trade.” One special time for me was meeting Frank Peretti, author of two books I read in the 80s (This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness) that made a huge impact on me (as well as the other 3.5 million people who bought the books.) He was hilarious and deep, a rare combination, and such a kind man. He was our keynote speaker for the weekend, plus he shared in workshops, and I came as close to being a groupie fangirl as I have ever come in my life.

Other speakers who were favorites were Allen Arnold, James Scott Bell, Robert Dugoni, and Susie May Warren. They all shared deeply moving stories about their lives as well as teaching on writing.

One especially encouraging thing happened with the pitches for my new series idea set in the Yorkshire Dales in England. The agent I spoke with, and both editors I “pitched” the idea to, were very interested and want to see it. I am so grateful for this encouraging “shot in the arm.” It doesn’t mean a sale, but it’s the next step in that direction.

Perfect Timing

The Old Brewhouse flat

So, I head back to England tomorrow, to a small flat in Settle, England, to work hard on Book 1 and finish research for Books 2 and 3. My head is practically bursting with ideas after sitting in 16-18 hours of excellent teaching. My next three weeks will be filled with writing, reading, museum visits, talking to the sheep on my hikes…and then starting the cycle over again. I can’t wait! I’ll post some photos and news throughout the time I’ll be there.

And if anyone knows a word for the opposite of “a perfect storm,” let me know!

 

 

Books for Discouraged or Overwhelmed Writers

Published on by Kristi Holl
Young overwhelmed woman.

During the summer, when trying to stay above the health issues and do things with my grandkids and keep up with a few strict publishing deadlines, I read two books that were especially helpful.

I found I was fighting on a regular basis two discouraging ideas.

One: what had happened to my “dream” novel, the novel of my heart, while dealing with all these other urgent things? It had floundered.

Two: how could I get a handle on everything that had piled up and still get back to my dream novel? [I had a conference coming up where I had signed up to pitch my novel to an editor and agent. If “life” hadn’t interfered for months, I could have easily had it finished.]

As so often happens with me, my prayers for help led me to a book. Or, in this case, two books. One fed my soul with encouragement. The other gave me the practical help and coaching that I needed to get perspective. I don’t believe in re-inventing the wheel if someone else has already solved a problem and written about it. Maybe one or both of these books will help you too.

The Dream Giver

This book inspired me at a time I needed to know that my dream of the last five years wasn’t dead or dying, but meant to be. The Dream Giver: Following Your God-Given Destiny by Bruce Wilkinson has been a bestseller for many years. Here’s the back blurb (and yes, it’s a Christian book.)

“Are you living your dream? Or just living your life? Welcome to a little story about a very big idea. This compelling modern-day parable tells the story of Ordinary, who dares to leave the Land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream. [Note: it follows the ups and downs of achieving his dream. I could identify with all the stages!] You, too, have been give a Big Dream. One that can change your life. One that the Dream Giver wants you to achieve. Does your Big Dream seem hopelessly out of reach? Are you waiting for something or someone to make your dream happen? Then you’re ready for The Dream Giver.”

Growing Gills

This book was recommended to me by a blog reader who gave such a rave review of this book that I had to check it out. I’m so glad I did! Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You’re Drowning in Your Daily Life by Jessica Abel is so very good. Don’t you love that title? Jessica also has a great blog. ( Click and scroll down.) Growing Gills comes with a free workbook you can download and print out, which I did, and then work through the exercises to do what her title promises. Here’s part of  the blurb:

“Go from overwhelmed, anxious, and stuck, to consistent, clear, and in control of your creative life. If you feel like you’re floundering in the deep end (Not waving, drowning!), and anxiety over the complexity and enormousness of your creative projects overwhelms you, stop scrambling to fit everything in and feeling stretched thin.

Dive Deep and Swim

  • Sustain the energy you feel when thinking of how awesome your projects could be.
  • Value your own creative work as highly as work you do for other people.
  • Build a reusable structure and process that will consistently get you to the finish line.
  • Blast through your stuck-ness.
  • Finish. Move on to the next project.

You’re a creative person. Even if you have a hard time calling yourself a “writer” or an “artist” in public, making your creative work is core to who you are and how you see the world. You may be harboring a big, ambitious idea for a project. Possibly a lot of them. And it’s killing you.

You lie awake thinking about it…and hating yourself for not doing more to make it real. And then in the morning you’re exhausted, and you can’t believe you “wasted” more time on this stupid idea. Whoever told you that you were creative anyway? You try to shove your idea away, to forget it. But your creative work is what keeps you sane. You can’t not do this. So you live with guilt and anxiety all the time.” [If you follow the workbook as you read her book, this can be a thing of the past.]

 

The Most Fun Kind of Hands-On Research: Travel

Published on by Kristi Holl

Research, especially when combining travel and writing, is the most fun a writer can have! I have had two published novels set in England, and I’m back here doing research in the Yorkshire Dales for another one. (Anyone here love veterinarian James Herriot’s books and the BBC TV show “All Creatures Great and Small”? That’s the Yorkshire Dales.)

To say that it’s beautiful here doesn’t come close. But since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll let you decide. (If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll recognize the photos.) We’re staying in an apartment in Settle. When this whirlwind research week is finished and my husband goes back to the U.S. to work, I’ll be eager to dig in and write! 

Day One 

We made it to Settle, UK late in the day. This is what is on our street. We only walked three blocks in each direction. We are in the heart of this little village, and like all small towns, we’re only a few blocks away from both the “city center” and the countryside (a straight uphill climb to the moors). The first picture is The Folly, a building right across the street which we can see from our kitchen window. It was built in the 1670s and now houses a museum and coffee/tea room. I LOVE DOING RESEARCH!

    

   

   

        

Day Two 

After a good night’s rest, we went to church first. (Wonderful service, very warm people.) Then lunch at a pub called Ye Olde Naked Man Cafe (seemed sinful on a Sunday). Hiked to the next village and back–BEAUTIFUL weather, lots of sheep, a train station, fantastic views, more food bought at a favorite bakery…bliss.

   

   

   

   

   

   

Day Three   

On the third day, we hiked for six solid hours, straight up hills and little mountains (and got temporarily lost on the moors by taking a “shortcut”). You had to come down sideways to keep from pitching forward. The burros loved us, but the sheep rolled their eyes and then went back to munching.

   

   

                          

   

   

Day Four

We were ready for something more leisurely today: a steam train ride, then a hike to see Bolton Abbey, and poking around an awesome used book store. Bought some great research material!

       

    

     

     

Research Across the Ocean: Heading Back to England!

Published on by Kristi Holl

Image result for flying to englandI thought this week would never get here, and yet the summer flew by, and now I don’t feel ready! I’m taking lots of deep (excited) breaths this week, getting ready to go to England for a month.

I was in England two years ago, visiting the homes of Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Beatrix Potter, in order to write historical mysteries I had contracted for. I made a mental note during that trip that someday I wanted to go back and explore the Yorkshire Dales. The Dales have the moors like the Brontë village of Haworth, but it’s greener and warmer. For a couple of years, I’ve nursed an idea for a series set there.

Research in Person: Nothing Quite Like It

So it’s time to go back! Only this time I plan to do what I’ve heard other writers talk about for years: stay longer and write there. My husband is coming for ten days, then flying home to go back to work. I will stay the remainder of the month (in a cute little apartment we rented in the small village of Settle.) I plan to write and write and write.

This is definitely one of the perks of being a writer who’s been around a while. I document everything for the IRS, probably giving them more paperwork than they like to read. But I honestly can’t afford this kind of travel unless it gives me a huge tax break. I was able to write off most of my trip last time by proving that I had contracts for the Brontë and Austen books (and I wasn’t just going on a vacation.) Of course, on this trip, I can’t write off my husband’s plane ticket, but the apartment costs the same whether one person is staying there or four people. And renting a car or a driver is the same whether it’s just for me or for us both.

My Plan for the Month

We arrive in England on Saturday morning after the all-night flight. I’ll post some pictures next week while we’re out hiking and visiting museums and riding the trains and exploring the rocky hills (with their grazing sheep and waterfalls and caves).

However, after my husband flies home, I plan to dig in for some undistracted writing. Instead of posting immediately to Facebook and Instagram and Pinterest, I will save those new photos to post when I get home. I only plan to keep up with my husband, children and grandchildren while I’m writing. (That’s the hard part about choosing to be gone this long—all their lives I’ve seen the grandkids nearly every week.)

Deep Work in a Distracted World

If you’re at all introverted, you know the joy I anticipate at being able to write for three weeks without distraction. Oh, I will take plenty of breaks. The apartment is in the heart of the oldest part of the village. The pub and bakeries are only half a block away. A museum housed in a building built in 1670 is right across the street. And just a few blocks away are the woods and the open moors, perfect for walking and ruminating. But mostly, I’ll be reading and writing. (I’ve done months of book research already.)

Last year, when I ran into a number of health issues, I realized I was having difficulty focusing when I got back to work. Some, I learned, was due to illness, but a LOT of it came down to my lifestyle, including too much smartphone use. I went on a reading spree, studying how the brain works. I also read three books that convinced me to unplug from all devices for periods of time, and work (like I used to do on that Iowa farm when I started writing). Your writer’s brain needs chunks of time without the constant influx of information from multiple sources.

We’re All in This Together

It isn’t only me. It isn’t just kids who spend too much time playing video games on their phones. This applies to all of us, and ESPECIALLY to people like us who depend on being able to think deeply and use our God-given brains and imaginations to their utmost.

So, while I’m secluded in that English village after my husband goes home, maybe you’d like to read one (or all three) of these books. (You can get them used, if you want to.) I’m sure I’ll be blogging about them more in the future.

 

 

And now, I’m off to watch a YouTube video one more time about how to pack my Weekender Laptop Backpack. (See below.) It must have thirty hidden pockets. My inner organizer can’t wait! eBags Professional Weekender

 

 

 

Weekend Gems

Published on by Kristi Holl

For your weekend reading pleasure, here are four articles I think you’ll find inspiring and practical. (We need both!)

Bookmark them all, or save them to Evernote, and each time you need a break from your writing, read one of these articles. 

You’ll be glad you did!

  • Here’s one of the best quick reference guides for plotting your conflict that I’ve seen in a long time: 9 Ways To Undermine Your Characters’ Best Laid Plans. It’s a list worth printing off and keeping next to your keyboard.
  • Renowned editor Patti Lee Gauch’s thoughts from a Highlights workshop: Have Your Own Standard of Excellence
  • 5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM describes what successful people (not just writers) do each morning to make sure they use their day in a powerful way. Simple, but profound–and we could all take a lesson here!
  • Books change lives. We say it all the time. Here’s an inspirational article about a new YA author and this very thing: Sometimes The ‘Tough Teen’ Is Quietly Writing Stories

 

A Walking Idea Factory

Published on by Kristi Holl

Lately I feel about as creative as a cement block.

Most of us know, however, that we can’t wait to feel creative before we write.

Where’s My Muse?

Writers who wait for inspiration before they decide to write are generally known as hobbyists. Working writers—those actively writing and growing in their craft—must write whether the muse is “in” or not.

“Which means, essentially,” says author of The Art of War for Writers, James Scott Bell, “you have to become a walking idea factory.”

And he really does mean walking. He said he gets a lot of his ideas for his current work-in-progress when walking. Ho-hum, I thought at first. Other writers have said the same thing. However, Bell puts a fun twist to his idea.

Dragging My Heels

I love to walk—but I have usually balked at this kind of “work while you walk” advice. After working at my desk, I want a break. And mulling over my novel while taking a walk doesn’t do a darned thing to refresh me. My brain is too tired. When I walk, I want to listen to a book on tape, something Jane Austen-y that I know will feed my soul. Thinking about my own novel just feels like more work to me.

But…that’s not what Bell recommends! His “walk while you work” is different, fun, and effortless.

In his The Art of War for Writers, he says that after a writing session, “I try to take an hour walk every day and listen to an audio book.” Inevitably his muse or imagination (what he calls “the boys in the basement”) sends up ideas for his work-in-progress while he’s listening to his audio book for relaxation. When that happens, he stops, makes a note in the pocket notebook he carries, then goes back to his audio book and walks some more. He calls this his system for “being creative without thinking about it. That way you can be ‘working’ on your idea even when you’re not working on it.”

Working While Walking?

For several days I tried Bell’s system and was really surprised. I honestly hadn’t expected it to work—but it did! While walking and listening to Pride and Prejudice on my MP3 player, my brain released a good number of ideas—things that I could later develop (a secondary character’s flaw, a plot twist that would also show the book’s theme, a better setting for the climax scene). I have to admit that I was very surprised how well this worked.

If you want to try it, here are Bell’s steps for becoming a walking idea factory.

  1. Focus fully on your book or story idea during your writing time.
  2. Talk a walk and relax, get your mind off your story, then capture the ideas that pop up during your walk.
  3. Back home, immediately put your recorded bits in a computer file. Expand on them, brainstorm the ideas, follow rabbit trails. Do that with each idea that popped up on your walk.
  4. Let the ideas cool for a day and then come back to them for assessment.
  5. Decide which ideas to keep and use in your current work. Set the others aside for another project.

Bell says if you get used to thinking this way, your creativity will explode. We could all use that.

Have you ever tried this? Or a similar strategy? If so, please comment!