Finding Remedies

< Don't find fault, find a remedy >
               - Henry Ford 

So I read, a lot, as any writer should. But there was something missing in the stories I would read. This didn't compute right. Too much mushy stuff. Not enough of this. The character tried too hard. I literally could fill this blog with my angst over books I have read. This is was one of the reasons I began writing stories. (Although I could rip your heart out with poetry if I had too) But it's not the same. I found fault in almost ever book I read. So I wanted to create my own. Then I did. My remedy was to create the perfect novel! Ha! Looking back I realize all those novels where perfect in their own way. They were published after all and my novel wasn't. My remedy led me to where I need to be. Writing. So I encourage you, in all your endeavors, to find a remedy. It might unearth the best in you.

Keep your pen up!

What box?

<Instead of thinking out of the box, get rid of the box>
         -Deepak Chopra 

What happens when we get rid of the box? I can see some panicked faces already. Don't worry the box wasn't important anyway.
To be truly unique as writers we must, we must, we must, get rid of the box. Be out of the ordinary from out of the ordinary. Don't be like all those writers who say they aren't like those "other" writers. (I don't have any more of those cliches; you're safe for now). So what if the essence of your novel has been done a million times over. It's the details that make it YOUR novel. It's YOUR writing style that make it different. Take a little risk. Do something spontaneous! This is a call to action! Just kidding.
You don't need to lose yourself or your novel to changes you make to the story. But you do need to make it shine in a way only you can, differently than those other writers. Make sense? Good.

Keep your pen up!

Time Will Not

"You may delay but time will not"  -Benjamin Franklin 

Do you ever have those days where the list of things to do is too long and the day too short?
I believe we all do. This time of year is always busy for us. Tax time gets insane as there is a scramble for the last crumpled receipt stuck between the passenger seat and the console. With the hubs being self employed, there is a lot of extra work (and pressure!) for me. I'm responsible for the calculations of all the receipts and purchases and deductions. Normally as someone who battles with time management in the worst way possible, I would rather suck my thumb in the corner rather than look at all the work ahead. (Fitting for an aspiring author, don't you think?) This year was different. I avoided all distaste, tears and stress while caring for our newborn son! (AH-HA!) How?
The phrase at the beginning is a spectacular example of how we should live day to day.
I beat all my obstacles by putting the tax preparation ahead of daily activities. As soon as a month was finished I entered the numbers into the spread sheet. Let me tell you, busting my hind end to get all that done was worth it. I'm nearly stress free and we have our tax appointment tomorrow. Everything is level. Now if I can apply that to my writing, I'd have another six novels under my belt. I've learned from my situation. If I don't make the time for my WIP it will infinitely be just that. Work. In. Progress. And even though it isn't my first love, it's solid...so far. I get lost in trying to keep up with the laundry and the dishes while making meals or sweeping, I delay working on my novel. Now my lovelies I must go and write.

Defeat vs. Resilience

"Defeat is in your mind. Resilience is in your soul."

Keri Murphy

         The power of positive thought, some consider it a way of life while others consider it hokie. Can it really change the outcome of circumstances? I'll leave it for you to decide, ultimately. Just allow me a few minutes of your time. To be honest I believe our self-reflected thoughts have a lot to do with the out come of situations. Why do some authors never make it to publishing while others fade away? Maybe it's because they didn't have the right people pushing lights into their dark thoughts. Maybe Keri was on to something. If we already believe we'll never accomplish our dreams than there isn't really a point to all of our hard work and sacrifice. But, we carry on. We struggle. We cry. We feel crushed. We have pride followed by insecurity. We find that thin fiber of our being that desperately wants out, to write until sundown and then some. It's our resilience that keeps us going. It keeps us reaching for those stars.

         

          Keep your pen up!

You Only Got Three Choices

"You only got three choices in life: give up, give in, or give it all you've got."

Kim Garst

          Pursuing a career in writing you have to choose one of the three mentioned above. We face each choice at one time or another. Maybe all of them at the same time. Life is weird like that. I've given up, for a period of time. I've given in, to the terms my beloved first manuscript will most likely never make it to a hard back cover. I'm giving it all I've got. Starting right here with this blog. I'm a firm believer in practicing your craft. (It could also be that I simply love writing.) Listen not one person whose "made it" will tell you it came easy.  But what most will tell you is, they gave it their all.

          Keep your pen up! 

All We Need

"Be happy in each moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more." 
       -Mother Teresa 

Profound words from a profound woman of wisdom. Can you imagine the life this woman lived? I would have loved to sit with her a spell and soak it all in. It would take years to learn just one little thing this person did so effortlessly. 
Lets backtrack a tad before we get into the meat of this one. 
As an American we are taught at a very young age to thrive on instant gratification and surplus. We take a lot of things for granite because of our driven mentality. We are the essence of "more is better". Greedy. Selfish. (I'm speaking in a general sense, just hang in there). 
So the question is how can we apply this to our writing?
Simple. Relish each and every moment you write. Savor it as if you would never again get to write. Be profound. Make the words you spill from head mean more than ever before. Enjoy writing like you did before it became an overwhelming task. We've all been there and we're all on the journey together. Keep your pen up and enjoy the hard work you do in choosing each word.

Big Plans

<Make big plans, but change your plans as time changes>

Welp. We're done here. Time to go back to your regularly scheduled programming. (kidding)  Time changes a lot of things. Things that time changes, changes how we view time.
Maybe you've wanted to be published traditionally but hear the same thing from agents, this topic is dead (e.g. shape shifters, vampires, dystopian), but are confident that your manuscript is so shiny you could blind a pilot at thirty thousand feet then explore self-publishing. Times have changed and technology is progressing quickly. Along with that new avenues have opened for us, writers, to utilize. There are dozens of sites to self-pub.