6/27/12

Yes, I Am

I can't tell you how many times people come up to me and ask, "So, are you working on a new book?" Or, "Got any new books in the works?" Or simply, "Doing any writing lately?"

My answer? Of course! I don't call myself a writer because I sit and twiddle my thumbs. I've even come to combat that issue with a t-shirt. (Found here) "Yes, I AM working on another book." The theory of this is really quite simple. Although I have to admit - it's taken me a long time to realize it.

You see, for so long, I thought "working" on a book or any other piece required me to actually sit in front of my keyboard and type (or take my pad and write by hand). If I hadn't done either of those for a while, I actually felt guilty when responding "yes" to people's questions as to whether or not I was working on something. I'd stammer with something like, "Well, I haven't done any writing lately, but I do have several books in the wings waiting..." Seriously? I can't believe I fell for the lie that just because I wasn't toiling over my computer it meant I wasn't working on a project.

Only recently did I begin to see the error in that line of thinking. I was making myself feel guilty for not having pencil in hand 24/7. In reality though, I AM working on a book 24/7... or at least close to it.

When not resting my fingers on a keyboard, plots run through my mind. Phrases. Scenes. Characters. Action. Romance. Quotes. It's almost a constant with me. Not a day goes by that somewhere in my mind I'm not hatching new plots or developing characters. This is "working" on my books too.

When ignoring my pencil and paper, I'm giving my brain and creativity a break. Rests are good for the body - why not the mind? When an athlete rests after a five-mile run do they tell people, "No, I'm not running anymore," just because they're not running that very moment? Of course not! Yes, they're still running - they're just taking a breather so their body can recover. It's the same with a writer's mind. Breaks in between actual writing is indeed "working," because those breaks are a necessary part of supporting creativity.

Am I working on a new book? You betcha! I've got more than one going, actually. Does that mean I have to be working on it this very instant? Not at all. Should I allow myself to ignore my writing projects and let the dust pile on top of them just because I like my "break." Obviously, that's not good. But as long as I'm working on my projects in one way or another and still striving to reach the goal of "the end," yes, I AM writing. Yes, I AM working on a new book.

4/23/12

New Project

A new book is in the works. Very different from my previous novels, it's turning out to be quite an adventure... and a bit of a scary one too.

With one chapter written, the book remains without a title. But it is not without purpose. Contrary to my other books, this one will be an allegorical fantasy. There will be a princess in distress. An arrogant king. A sword that cuts to the quick but not the flesh. A noble prince. A dangerous dragon. Unicorns. Fairies. And above all, The Source - the One who made all and is all.

The underlying theme I hope to convey is an ultimate trust in God, and the consequence of being "lukewarm." My choice of not setting things within the realm of reality is to simply enable my imagination to be stretched, and to challenge myself, as a writer, to convey the principles I desire without necessarily being as black and white as my other books have been.

Will I see this project to completion? I hope so. I don't know how long this burst of inspiration will last, but I must pursue it while I can. Updates to come.

1/28/12

Zany Fictionalization

Although there is certainly the need to concentrate on major writing projects - to buckle down and do it in order to complete the task (whether it's a newspaper article or finishing a novel), in the world of creativity, play is often a must. When my creative juices are running dry, I often try to engage my brain in simpler tasks, or tasks that are much more fun, at the moment, than trying to edit a paragraph in one of my novels or cut down the word count in one of my shorter articles. And every once in a while, the task I come up with is just a little bit zany.

Remember when we were kids and it was really easy to pretend being someone else? Maybe a character from a movie, a book, or someone completely made up? Whatever part of the brain that comes from must shrink as we become adults. Or...do we just forget its there? I, for one, do not want to lose that precious tool of imagination - or at least not entirely. Granted, I don't go running around the yard whooping and hollering like a cowboy or Indian. But being able to pretend and immerse myself into a character can be a great help when writing fiction.

One way to have fun with fiction is to make up a character out of the blue and simply write from that character's perspective for a while. For example, I just created a Facebook page as a dancing flower... No, seriously! Check it out. I am now officially Violet Sneedsun. Granted, she's a plastic solar-powered flower that dances in the light, was bought at a dollar store and remains seated on my desk at work... or does she? On one hand, it's just a cheap plastic flower. On the other hand, it's an enormous treasure trove of creative juices.

Think it's dumb? Besides the fun and games and making people smile, here are some very legit writing exercises happening:
  1. I had to develop a background, family and even interests. If I can do that with a dancing flower, surely I can apply the same efforts to creating a fictional human character in my serious writing.
  2. I had to create a world in which Violet lives and thrives. She loves to travel. I haven't posted much on the Facebook page yet because I just started it, but eventually, readers will follow her all over the world, and even see pictures. Talk about stretching the creative mind. What better way to exercise that creativity?
  3. I am asking Facebook friends to "like" the page. Violet isn't a secret anymore. It's whacky, it's silly, and it's just a bit weird. Sometimes, as a writer, I like to hide away and lot let others see what I've come up with because I'm afraid someone will make fun. Coming up with Violet Sneedsun is a safe way to stretch my imagination when it's supposed to be silly. It's a safe way to practice letting other people into a corner of my writing world.
  4. I am giving my brain some fun. No matter what other daunting task I'm looking at, Violet Sneedsun gives me the opportunity to sit back and just play for a few minutes. With a plastic flower, I can let my imagination do whatever it wants, therefore relaxing my mind, getting me away from a serious task for a few minutes, and giving me some spontaneous fun.
  5. I had to think outside the box. Often, thinking outside of the norm does not come naturally. We are a race of habit-makers, and most of us have trouble thinking beyond what's "normal" or "acceptable." When writing fiction, though, thinking outside the box may be key to grabbing a reader's attention. But because this line of thinking does not come naturally, practicing it is a very good exercise.

When writing fiction, there are so many activities to help build a strong base for characters and plot lines. Some may seem silly on the surface, or may not even seem like they would help in writing a book at all. But who ever thought giving life to a dancing flower would be an actual exercise either? I've just proven that something as zany as that, can actually provide a large benefit to fiction writing.

I've written and published several novels, but every day I'm still learning, growing and improving in my writing. Writing exercises should never stop, for beginners or seasoned writers alike. And every once in a while, there's call for some zany idea just to have fun.

1/2/12

Bookshop Up and Running

As promised, I'm sharing the link to my newly updated online "bookshop." Not only do I have my books for sale, but also some items created with my photography and the start of some poetry for framing as well.

I'm still tweaking a few things, but for all practical purposes, it is complete. My main goal was to have it match my main site enough that they looked connected, and to list more than just my books.
You can check it out by clicking here.