Category: Random

Good morning, all :)

Many thanks to those who responded about their favorite artists. I will be doing a post on my favorites soon (promise!) but for now, I wanted to put words to web for what’s happening.

There are many ways to write a book. Some are better than others, and one good thing is that after writing more than one, you can tell what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes I try to take certain things from one and other things from another. Sometimes in the beginning, a certain process works great, but toward the end it becomes like pasta (ever-growing, no way out of).

Case in point. Current manuscript in progress. Don’t ask me why, but I decided to “quilt” this manuscript together. Normally I stick to a linear approach, and write the book from beginning to end. Sometimes I detour, sometimes I get stuck, sometimes I plot, sometimes I don’t. But it’s usually linear. Not this time. Linear wasn’t working, but all these ‘random’ scenes in my head seemed to flow.

Why argue w/the muse? I began writing down various scenes, had a vague idea what the storyline would be, and knew my characters well. This worked…for 185 pages. Then a horrible thing happened. It no longer worked! I had no more ‘new’ scenes to put in, and I needed the linear approach to make it all make sense to me. In the midst of this, I also changed the title and that cast a new spin on things.

Moral of the story–each book is unique, and each approach has to use the best things that have worked before while trying to avoid what didn’t work. I am to the point of believing that odd numbered books work and even numbered ones don’t. Yes, this sounds ridiculous, but it’s been true for me. Book 1 didn’t exactly “flow” but there were moments of sheer inspiration that surprised even me. Book 3 practically wrote itself…seriously. It’s the easiest book I’ve ever done, and also one of my favorites.

So my advice is…figure out what works. Don’t start writing until you’re ready. Make a few notes for scenes/turning points and put them on a bulletin board. Try to have a plan if you get stuck.

So, right now, I pick myself up out of the quicksand I feel I am in, and will go back to being linear. I’ll patch these scenes together, bridge some where necessary, and heave ho my way onward.

Elaine

Hello all,

What an incredible surprise this morning. I stepped outside to let the pets out and feed them, and it’s about 65 degrees, with a cool breeze blowing! This is the South, otherwise known as “The Almighty Sauna” for those of you who may not live here. It was so different, so refreshing, that I stood up and took notice.

I think that’s what happens when we find artistic things which inspire us. Whether they be books, films, paintings, photos, or people–these are the things which make us stand up and take notice.

So, my question to you on this lovely Saturday morning is…Who are YOUR favorite artists? What excites you about a character, a place, an art gallery, a photo, a person?

I will post my responses in another blog entry, but for now…calling all followers and people who comment (c’mon…you know who you are!) to tell me your thoughts first.

Thx!
Elaine

Hey all,

I’m originally from New Orleans, so I admit I’m partial to any jazz, Dixieland, zydeco, etc. music that comes out of the swampy area brewing with great food and drink.

Found this video on youtube – Dr. John playing the song “Iko Iko.” What a talented musician, with such a unique voice all his own. Play it again, Dr. John!

View the video here (2 minutes, 27 seconds).

Hello all,

Yes, it’s true. It’s been 2 months since I’ve blogged. *Gasp* I’d love to say it’s because my fingers have been dashing across the keyboard at such a fast pace that even the muse can’t keep up, but…well, you get the picture.

Yet it HAS been a productive few months, and something key I wanted to share with my blog readers. Ready?

There is an inner critic inside each of us. Yep, it’s true. Writers are especially aware of this sneering little voice, which appears at the worst times to destroy our mojo. We want the critic around when we’re editing, polishing, and prepping our manuscripts to go out into the world. But during the creative process, it’s best we kick the inner critic’s butt to the curb.

So HOW do we do that? I don’t have the definitive answer, but I do have several things which have worked for me.

1. Imagine your critic talking through a kazoo. One of my twitter followers mentioned this was horrible, as there was “nothing so frightening” as a kazoo. Well, perhaps. To me, a kazoo is like those fun/silly mirrors at an amusement park. It takes reality and skews it to something silly, overdone, and ridiculous.

So the next time this voice inside your head tells you that your chapter doesn’t make sense and it’s crap, repeat those words in your head in a kazoo voice. It may make the critic be silent, if only for a spell.

2. Picture yourself out on a ledge, holding that manuscript, painting, whatever creative art you produce in your hands. Imagine yourself ready to fling that thing out into the wind, ready to be destroyed. What would you say to yourself to get yourself back inside? What rational arguments would you use to talk yourself back to a better place, a more realistic one?

Bottom line, our inner critics tell us things that we would never accept from people outside of ourselves, so why should the critic be this big, looming creature? Give it a voice like a kazoo. Or imagine it’s a fluffy white rabbit covered in easter egg shells. Anything to shake it up, and make sure that your inner critic isn’t welcome until the editing process begins. Then that critic can come in and stay awhile, because it will help you.

Thx!
Elaine