How, Not What

I have two excellent posts I'd like to share with you all. 

The first - "A Writer's Manifesto" - is by Julie Duffy. You might know her, as I do, from StoryADay, but she wrote this for Writer Unboxed. 

"A writer’s manifesto is a highly personal document that,

• Is about your identity as a writer.
• Gives you a unified sense of what you want to achieve in all your writing.
• Transcends genres and projects.
• Is more motivating than individual goals."

She not only shares her own manifesto, but she also gives guidance on how to create our own. I wrote one up for myself and put it on my bulletin board. I look at it every day, and it does exactly what she says it does. 

"When you find yourself struggling, ask yourself how you want to be writing. Not what characters or stories or subjects you’ll tackle or how you’ll make this scene perfect, but what you want to achieve with your writing. Pick up your manifesto and ask how you can make today’s writing align with your values."

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Now, any post that starts off referencing actor Bryan Cranston as dentist Tim Whatley from Seinfeld has me hooked. So, of course, I kept reading James Scott Bell's "What Bryan Cranston Can Teach Writers" over at The Kill Zone.

Bell talks about Cranston's autobiography, A Life in Parts, where Cranston talks about his acting career and the moment he started focusing on the process and stopped focusing on the outcome. Bell relates it to writing. 

"You’re not here to get something, 

you’re here to give something—

entertainment value to a reader."

An excellent reminder! 

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Do you have a writer's manifesto? Plan on creating one? Are you able, for the most part, to focus on the process and let the rest go? 

When Motivation Melts

It's been a long hot summer - is it really only the middle of July? Sheesh! - and my creative oomph is melting like chocolate ice cream down the sides of a sugar cone.

So, if you're feeling the same, these quotes might help - two for keeping on track, one for a good chuckle.  

Wait . . . do you hear that? Voices from the freezer. Ben? Jerry? Uh-oh, I better rescue them! I'll need a spoon. You know, just in case things get yummy . . . uh, I mean messy.

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"Stop looking at what other people are doing

and look at what you're achieving.

Stop looking sideways,

look at where you're going."

(Jocelyn Glei)

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"WRITER'S BLOCK IS BROUGHT ON

BY WANTING TO WRITE WELL

AND FEARING YOU'RE NOT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE WELL,

YOU HAVE TO REVISE WELL."

(Janet Reid)

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"I AM EDITING ONE BOOK 

AND DRAFTING ANOTHER,

MOVING FROM PJS TO YOGA PANTS AND BACK

WITHOUT EVER MAKING A STOP

BY ACTUAL CLOTHES."

(Joshilyn Jackson)

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How's your creative oomph and motivation holding up so far this summer? Any advice for keeping it from melting? Do you have a favorite ice cream or other stay-cool treat?  

May We Motivate You?

As the month of May draws to a close, we here at TSR would like to offer up some motivation - and a little humor! Let's start the second half of 2018 with a kick in the creative "oomph" and a chuckle or two . . . .

"YOUR INTUITION ALREADY KNOWS

WHAT IT WANTS TO WRITE,

SO GET OUT OF THE WAY."

(Ray Bradbury)

"There are a million talented writers out there

who are unpublished only because

they stop writing when it gets hard.

Don't do that."

(Gillian Flynn)

"UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 

HEALTHY STRIVING AND PERFECTIONISM 

IS CRITICAL 

TO LAYING DOWN THE SHIELD 

AND PICKING UP YOUR LIFE." 

(Dr. Brene Brown)

"My theory on housework is,

if the item doesn't multiply, smell,

catch fire, or block the refrigerator door,

let it be. No one else cares.

Why should you?

(Erma Bombeck)

"IF I WROTE A DR. SEUSS-ESQUE BOOK

ABOUT THE RESEARCH I DO FOR MY NOVELS

IT WOULD BE TITLED

'OH, THE THINGS YOU NOW KNOW.'

IT WOULD BE TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE

FOR CHILDREN."

(Mindy McGinnis)

"MY WISH FOR YOU IS THAT

YOU FEEL NO NEED 

TO CONSTRICT YOURSELF 

TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE

COMFORTABLE."

(Ta-Nehisi Coates)

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How was your May? Your first half of 2018? What creative plans and projects do you have coming up? What are you looking forward to this summer - books, movies, TV shows, vacations?

Make Something Happen

One of my big goals this year is to take my horror novella/novel as far as I can then move to the next step . . . whatever that is. Is it sending it to beta readers? Is it hiring a professional editor? Is it querying agents? I don't know. And right now, that's okay.

What I do know is that I have to Write. This. Book.

I'm tired of not writing it.

I'm tired of whining about not writing it (as are my husband and the tortoises!)

I'm tired of complaining, crying, envying, moping.

I'm tired of watching time tick by, taking my dreams with it.

So, I am heeding these words -

"YOUR CAREER IS IN YOUR HANDS NOW.

MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN."
(Janet Reid)

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How's your writing career going? Are you in the process of making something happen? And what does that "something" look like for you? Is it getting a novel written, going to a conference, learning a new marketing/publishing/social media tool? 

The Writing Path: Keep Your Machete Sharp and Your Cake Fork Handy

"THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE EASY, AND THE PATH IS NEVER GOING TO BE CLEAR. THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS KEEP YOUR MACHETE SHARP AND WHACK AWAY AT THE FOLIAGE TILL YOU CLEAR YOUR PATH."

(Janet Reid)

So, how's your writing path looking lately? Is it neat and edged, lined with flowers? Or is it more like mine:

I recently took a blogging break in the hopes of organizing my writing and writing-related work, of making huge progress on my novella, of revising and submitting more stories, etc. Well, for a number of reasons, including one that blew away my focus and rattled my nerves - I'm looking at you, Hurricane Irma! - little to nothing got done. Throw in a few rejections and a possible new project I'm torn about pursuing, and I might as well grow roots I'm so stuck.

But I'm starting to see some sunlight beckoning to me through the brambles and the branches, and I know my writing and I will be okay. Eventually. I just really hope there's some cake and a big glass of milk up ahead for sustenance. (Hey, you have your path, I have mine. If you want boring old trail mix, that's your problem.) 

Doubt, The Dream-Killer

How many times have you said to yourself some version of the following -

I don't think I can do this . . . .

I'm not sure I'm creative/smart/strong enough . . . .

Maybe everyone is right and I should just give up my dream/idea/plans . . . .

Yeah, me too.

But here's a reminder, something I'm going to say to myself over and over until it's tattooed on my heart - 

DOUBT KILLS MORE DREAMS 

THAN FAILURE EVER WILL.

(Suzy Kassem)

Believe, people. 

Believe. 

Worth It

I came across the following quote right when I needed it the most. I just love when that kind of thing happens, don't you? So, I'm sharing the words here with you all, just in case you, or someone you know, is in need of them, too.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WAKE UP 

IN THE MORNING WITH REGRETS,

SO LOVE THE PEOPLE WHO TREAT YOU RIGHT,

FORGET ABOUT THE ONES WHO DON'T,

AND BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING

HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE, TAKE IT.

IF IT CHANGES YOUR LIFE, LET IT.

NOBODY SAID IT'D BE EASY,

THEY JUST PROMISED IT WOULD BE

WORTH IT.

(Harvey Mackay)

A Challenge!

As March ends and April begins, I'm in need of some motivation. I saw this quote (by @rarguijo) in a magazine and thought - hmm, a challenge?

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MAKE TODAY 

SO AWESOME

THAT YESTERDAY 

GETS JEALOUS.

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Yes! I'm up for it!

How about you?

Ask Yourself This

I came across the following in a magazine awhile back and it about blew my mind. I hate to admit it, but I am so guilty of this:

"WAS IT A BAD DAY

OR

WAS IT A BAD FIVE MINUTES

THAT YOU MILKED ALL DAY?'

(-sdevanny1)

Now, whenever I catch myself in a bad mood, I stop and ask myself that question. 

Sometimes the answer is "Yes, it was a bad day, and chocolate better be forthcoming." (That's when my poor husband wishes he had a shell like the tortoises!) 

But most times the answer is, "No, it was a moment of aggravation, of annoyance, of frustration that I let get under my skin." Once I realize that, it's like all the little dust bunnies of gloom scatter, and I can see all the shiny surfaces of my life - all the big things I am grateful for, like my husband, our health, our home - as well as the smaller moments of joy and peace I experience throughout the day - reading a good book while drinking hot coffee, watching the tortoises doze happily under their heat lamp. 

Sure, we all have bad days, but maybe we don't have as many as we think we do. 

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How about you? Are you guilty of milking those five minutes, too? Will you try asking - and answering - the question? Have any other suggestions for gaining some perspective? How do you focus on gratitude instead of a negative attitude?

Shine On, People. Shine On.

Many of us are gearing up for National Novel Writing Month. Some of us are throwing ourselves into November armed with scene cards and a caffeine IV drip. Some of us are winging it with a pen and a prayer. Maybe you're not participating in NaNo, but you're diving into a different project.

Wherever our creativity takes us the rest of this year, the rest of our lives, let's make sure we remember this quote from Nic Stone: 

"DON'T LET SOMEONE DIM YOUR LIGHT,

SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S SHINING IN THEIR EYES.

NOT EVERYONE WILL BE SUPPORTIVE 

OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SOME WILL BALK.

SOME WILL TELL YOU NOT TO WASTE

YOUR LIFE ON PIPE DREAMS.

SOME WILL TREAT YOUR DESIRE TO WRITE

LIKE IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A HOBBY,

AND WILL JUDGE THE WAY YOU USE YOUR TIME.

KNOW THAT IT'S NOT YOU. IT'S THEM.

SHINE ON."

Get on Track! Writing Books and Links to Guide, Inspire and Motivate

This past summer, I came across some wonderful posts (and books!) about writing that really hit home for me. I'm sharing them here in the hopes we can all stay on a good track - or get on one! - for the rest of the year and into the next. May you come away from reading them with the same inspiration, motivation and guidance that I did! 

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If you've lost your writing mojo, check out Anna Elliot's post over at Writer Unboxed - When the Spark is Gone: 4 Ways to Bring Back the Joy of Writing: 

"But we all have experienced those hard days: times when we feel like we’ve lost the spark of delight in what we’re working on. It might be a scene, a chapter, or an entire book that suddenly feels flat or empty or just lifeless on the page."

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If you're trying to figure out where you'd like your writing career to go, these two posts from Pretentious Title can help:

Author Career Planning: "I'd like to talk about career planning. In my opinion, the trad vs self publishing choice is just a microcosm of figuring out a real career path for yourself."

Know Thy (Publishing) Self: "Because the truth is that both trad and self publishing have horrible pitfalls and incredible heights. Neither of them is easy and nothing is guaranteed. So how do you know which is right for you?" 

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I can't say enough good things about Lisa Cron's book Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence. I'm now reading her new one, Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages that Go Nowhere.) Oh. Yes. Please.  

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And now . . . some inspiration! Bear with me, I'm going all Fan Girl (wait, am I too old for that? Or should it be Fan Woman?) I am a huge fan of Mindy McGinnis - the 2016 Young Adult Edgar Award Winner! - whose new book, The Female of the Species, is out September 20th.

Guess how long it took this book's journey form beginning to bookstore? 15 years! In A Picture of a Thousand Torments, Or: A Literal Pile of Rejection Letters, Mindy says, "I'm sharing all of this with you not as yet another example of "never give up," but rather, "never stop improving." If I had continued to query for fifteen years but never bothered to improve my craft, I guarantee I would still be receiving rejections." Read her post. Please.

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(I didn't receive any compensation for mentioning these links or books. I just liked them and wanted to share.)