Rejection I Can Appreciate

So far I'd been trying to use this blog to be helpful to other aspiring writers. Right now, I just want to be real with you. (Fear not--I have no intention of emotionally upchucking all over your house slippers.)

I just wanted to confess that I've just received my fifth rejection from an agent, and I've got some mixed feelings about it. (Yes, I know that five rejections is nothing, and I can easily expect a dozen more before the planets align and/or Snooki's book finally runs its course.) I'm not reflecting so much on the rejection as I am on the -type- of rejection it happens to be. You see, this is the first non-form rejection I've received.

Aha! My angsty dark cloud has a silver lining.

That's right, while it still stung like being the last kid picked for Dodgeball, this letter was -personalized-! No generic 'Dear Author'... my actual name was at the top of that tiny paragraph. No cut-and-paste standard reply about how the agent gets so many queries every day they can't possibly give me a hint as to why my project (regrettably, of course) doesn't interest them... this one gave me an explanation. And here it is, short and sweet:

--------------

'Unfortunately I'm going to pass on this idea. The manuscript is quite long, and it's quite hard to sell memoirs from authors with small platforms.

Sorry about all this. The idea itself seemed interesting and interestingly enough mirrors a fiction project that I'm planning on taking on.'

Best,

--------------

Now that I've gotten some potentially useful feedback on my attempt, I have to decide what to do with it--if anything. (This was only the query, by the way. This particular agent didn't want writing samples included.)

*Can I cut down the manuscript notably?

Maybe a few thousand words could still be trimmed without the book losing its essence, but I'm not sure what count to shoot for (as there is no average word count for this genre.)

*Can I magically pull a 'platform' out of subspace by becoming famous overnight?

Unlikely. (Call me, Snooki! I'd like to audition to become your arch nemesis. >.>)

*Can I completely rework the book into a fiction piece and still live with myself?

Ask me again after another two-dozen dismissals.

Okay, so I suppose I don't have much by way of conclusive information just yet. At least it's a start. Seeing any of this echoed by a different agent will certainly make me sit up and reassess my approach to the query gauntlet.

In the mean time, the name of the game is 'persistence.' If Kathryn Stockett (author of 'The Help') had to face down 60 rejection letters before finding an advocate for her story, then I figure I've got 55 more to go before I'm entitled to mourn my lack of marketability. (I may do a bit of whining at every interval of 10 or so, but I'll try to keep it to myself as much as humanly possible.)

So, has anyone learned things from rejection letters? And if you happen to have some experience with them, tell me what you make of mine. :) I'm wide open to interpretations/suggestions.

Writers & Jargon

When I attended my first meeting for a local writer's guild, I did a lot of nodding and smiling. A default reaction to feeling dauntingly obtuse. There I was in the middle of the largest gathering of kindred spirits I'd ever experienced (well, outside of church or a comic convention), and I wasn't sure I understood their language. We were all speaking English, of course, but I was tripping over enough buzzwords, acronyms, and iconic phrases to make me question whether I knew anything about writing at all.

This wasn't any sort of intentional exclusion, mind you. I'm reasonably sure that most passions and professions claim their own set of specialized vocabulary, to one extent or another. Coming from a nursing background, I'd seen many an eye glaze over when I start throwing around medical terminology. It didn't take me too long to draw the obvious parallel. Before you can effectively talk shop, you need to know the lingo.

It seemed to me that I had two choices. I could either risk my pride by admitting ignorance, or risk missing out on an invaluable information base.

Well, I was there to learn outside of a vacuum, wasn't I?

Pride lost the argument. I looked around until I found a sufficiently non-threatening face, and promptly recruited myself a translator. I wish I could recall exactly who it was I had whispering hasty explanations to me throughout the rest of the meeting. I owe them a coffee--and my eternal gratitude. They gave me a much needed boost onto the learning curve.

Over the next several months, a number of my new guild-mates were kind (and patient) enough to continue answering random questions, pointing me to books and web sites, and otherwise filling in gaps in knowledge where Google searches had failed me. In that time I've kept track of a number of definitions I wished I would have known starting out. So for those new to the organized writing world, I wanted to offer a few of the orienting basics--in some semblance of a logical progression.

For those of you who've been navigating these literary waters for some time now, I would appreciate any suggested additions to the list! :)

MS = Manuscript.

WIP = Work In Progress (typically in reference to one's current manuscript.)

MC = Main Character.

POV = Point of View (Refers to the character(s) and/or perspective from which you decide to tell your story.)

GMC = Goal, Motivation, Conflict. Your character wants ______ because ______, but they can't have it because _______. (A way of reducing the essence of the book's plot down to 2 sentences. A critical ingredient to an effective query.)

TSTL = Too Stupid To Live (When one of the writer's objectives in a story to get the reader to care about what happens to their primary characters, you don't want them thinking this about any of them.)

'Show! Don't tell' = Writing in such a way that the reader is able to experience the story through a character's thoughts, words, actions, senses, and feelings rather than through the narrator's summarization. (Often used as an admonishment, or as a warning that you are starting to sound like a text book writer instead of a storyteller.)

Beta Reader = A secondary reader who previews a work with an eye to spotting errors, offering feedback, and/or suggesting improvements. (Typically a volunteer.)

Copy Editor = Someone who edits a manuscript for grammatical errors, along with pointing out inconsistencies and repetitions. (Typically a hired professional service.)

Novella = Between 17,500 and 40,000 words.

Novel = 40,000 words or more.

Single Title = Novels more than 80,000 words in length, not published as part of a publisher's category.

Voice = The distinct style, personality, and perspective of a piece of writing. When authentic, it serves as a literary 'fingerprint' -- made up of the author's innate diction preferences, sentence patterns, world-view, disposition, mood, personal experiences, etc.

Pantser = Writing style named for those who prefer to write 'by the seat of their pants' -- have the tendency to start writing with little or no plot in mind and without knowing exactly where they're going. They allow their characters to dictate where to go; and enjoy the spontaneity of this kind of writing.

Plotter = Writing style of one who MUST compose a detailed outline of their story before they feel like they can begin the real writing. Plotters tend to painstakingly plan out the beginning, middle, and end their story in advance; along with all parts in-between. Character sketches, fleshed-out backstory, and formulaic story-arcs appeal highly to them.

Quilter (sometimes called 'Plotser' or 'Plantser') = You guessed it, this writing style is a hybrid of the 'Plotter' and 'Pantser'. Quilters know their story and characters ahead of time, along with most major plot points, but remain flexible to character-driven changes as they go. They may or may not write scenes in actual order of progression.

Hook = The all important first paragraph of your query letter or article, meant to 'hook' the reader's attention.

Blurb = A short summary, usually referring to the words on the back of the book jacket.

Query = A sales letter through which you attempt to market your idea to an agent or editor.

Pitch = Same concept as a query, but often used in reference to a session with an agent or editor in person (or live chat/skype, if done via the internet).

Slushpile = An accumulative 'pile' of unsolicited manuscripts that have been sent to a publisher or editor.

HEA = Happily Ever After

Plotter, Pantser, or Quilter?

If you're new to the lingo, no, I'm not making a reference to evil pranksters who dabble in arts and crafts. Today I'm talking about writing styles!

Why? Because understanding how you (and others) naturally operate can go a long way toward helping you improve on your writing methods.

Note: I'm not going to claim to be an expert on this, I'm just going to lay out some observations I've made of my writing peers along with my interpretation of the available definitions.

*Plotter

By all definitions I found, a Plotter can't stand not to create an outline for their book before they actually begin writing. They may even go so far as to outline their individual chapter scenes. They see the whole picture ahead of time, and may feel compelled to create goals and checklists to help them track and quantify their progress. As a result, they are more likely to write in chronological order, from start to finish. I tend to associate Plotters with the OCD inclined, although this isn't always the case. If you need to feel precise or 'in control' with your writing, then you may innately lean in the direction of Plotter.

Advantages: When it comes time for the dreaded synopsis to be written, they have a distinct head start in the form of an existing outline. Plotters also tend to catch logistical errors and lags in pacing early on, saving themselves a great deal of trouble later down the writing road.

Disadvantages: Plotters can sometimes plan their story to death. They may get so bogged down in the details, chronology, and backgrounds involved that they take forever to actually start writing the meat of the story. They may also be tempted to cling to a predictable, formulaic approach, which can handicap their creativity.

*Pantser

To the best of my understanding, Pantsers derive their name from the implied 'fly by the seat of their pants' tendencies. Born improvisers, they don't entirely know what's going to happen next in their story, and they like it that way. Some insist that it ruins it for them to know the ending to their own story ahead of time. They also tend to have a knack for downplaying the more tedious elements in story structure, which seems to maximize their enjoyment of simply writing for writing's sake. If you like surprises and don't like to feel constrained, you may be leaning in a Pantersly direction.

Advantages: The general assumption is, if the author doesn't know what's going to happen next, neither will the reader. Their more haphazard approach often grants them a freer flow of creativity, and most don't seem to agonize when it comes to corrections.

Disadvantages: Heavy revision load. Plot holes and character inconsistencies may go unnoticed until the novel is finished, and correcting that late in the process carries the potential of a domino effect on other logistical complications.

*Quilter

Quilters (I've also seen them called Plottsers?) are something of a hybrid between the first two styles--trying to strike some sort of balance between calculated organization and imaginative spontaneity. They usually begin with a solid idea of what they want to write and how it will end, but they remain flexible to a plotline or character developing in an unexpected direction as they go. While they look before they leap, that doesn't mean they've decided how they're going to land. They prefer to write scenes as the mood strikes them, but not in any particular order. For a Quilter, a novel ends up being much like stitching together a series of interconnected short stories. They don't mind throwing characters and situations together just to see what happens, but because of the scene-jumping, they also like to create orderly references to keep their train of thought from derailing.

Advantages: The best (and worst) traits of the two previously mentioned styles, depending on the person.

Disadvantages: They may lack a sense of accomplishment until they've been able to piece together significant sections of their story.

I've personally found myself to be a Quilter, though I'm certainly not advocating one style over another. (I'd like to thank the warring effects of OCD and ADD for nurturing my particular 'technique.' >.>) I'm convinced that one's writing style is whatever comes most naturally to you, and forms as a result of your personality and ingrained habits. So, go with what works! There are plenty of exercises out there that encourage you to stretch yourself and/or determine the approach that's most effective for you.

Pantsers, don't squelch your creativity just because those nifty craft books recommend strategic outlining and formulas. And Plotters, don't think you need to take a Xanex and throw your punctilious caution to the wind just to get your muse to return your calls.

So, tell me about YOUR style. :)

.

Titles And Pretenses

Lately, I've been giving a lot of thought to what I ought to be calling myself. It's my understanding that titles are either earned, bought,(often a little of both) or bestowed by those qualified to do so. And so, you can see why I feel a bit like a fraud every time I call myself a writer. Yes, I call myself that -- among other things. I even have the designation 'Writer' listed on all of my calling cards, as though it were some desperate attempt to justify myself. True enough, if I would have instead called myself 'High Queen of the Fire-Breathing Elephant People', VistaPrints wouldn't have cared in the slightest, nor stopped to question my sanity.

At least when I call myself a mother, I can hold up one of my beautiful, squirming spawn as proof of the claim. Okay, so I do have a finished manuscript now. I suppose I could hold up the flashdrive backup copy and feel better about declaring myself a writer. But even as I consider that inane bolstering of my self-esteem... I get this image in my head of a galloping Richard Simmons crying out, 'I'm a Pony! I'm a Pony!'

Just as Mr. Simmon's claim and imitation does not, in fact, make him any more Equine -- I don't see how having written something necessarily makes me any more of a writer.

For the sake of argument, I'll expand my concern out into other related and somewhat subjective forms of human expression... At what point does one cross the line from dabbler-with-a-hobby to true Artist? When can a musical performer be called a Musician? -- Is there a magical number of fans one needs to accrue (outside of one's obligatory familial relationships)? Perhaps a board of experts on the skill that get together and vote?

I'm sure these questions have already been beaten to death and then flogged for good measure, but it's my blog, and I'm asking them anyway. ^_^

Unless I'm missing something, there don't seem to be any hard-and-fast rules. (I hate not knowing the rules. How is one supposed to bend, break, or petition to change them if no one knows what they are?) I've read the opinions of dozens of published authors on the subject of when they -felt- like they'd truly become a writer. Some said it was when they won their first contest and basked in the fickle glow of peer-approval; others claimed the title at the moment they received monetary compensation for their work -- regardless of how meager the sum; a confident few just seemed to always 'know' that writing was what they were meant for; and still others admitted that they still didn't -feel- like a writer, in spite of their undeniable accomplishments.

Personally, I don't yet fall under any of the above categories. And I continue to wonder if I'm ever going to feel like more than a chronic daydreamer with a slightly above-average vocabulary.

In the end, I'm not sure how much it matters. So maybe it's just a subjective label that describes an activity AND makes me feel a little better about myself. Until someone highly qualified tells me otherwise, I'm fairly content to live out my imagination with the utmost gusto... Which may or may not involve personalized mementos that support my delusions.

So, I want to hear what YOU think. What do you call yourself, and why?

Music To My Muse

When someone is as ADD-addled as I happen to be, it's difficult to concentrate on one particular task for an extended period of time. No matter how passionate you may be about said task, thoughts always end up ricocheting around your brain in their own little game of synaptic Pinball. It can't be helped. One minute I'm on a role in exactly the right direction, the next I find myself crossing the mental median, distracted by something frivolous, completely unrelated, and/or shiny.

Having small children isn't helping matters, unfortunately. There are days I feel like I get an average of 30 seconds to myself at one time. (This overdue blog post, for instance, wasn't so much written as it was accumulated over the course of five days.) But such is life. We must either adapt to the seasons, or be doomed to frustration.

I suspect just about anyone with an artistic bent can have trouble getting back into the groove of what they're working on after being sidetracked. Once you've been knocked out of 'the zone', it can feel as though your drive and inspiration went skidding off into a separate zip code. Your time, of course, is limited. So how do you rein in your focus?

*Some find success in the readily available and ever popular mainstay: caffeine.

*Some are able to utilize a set of specific habits/rituals – either intentionally or unintentionally cultivated – which their subconscious has been conditioned to recognize as a precursor. (Not unlike a more elegant, personally tailored version of Pavlov's dog.) This method actually helps me to some extent. If I've gotten derailed too badly, I'll go make myself a cup of tea and read something unrelated while the water is brewing. At least half of the time, once I've gone back upstairs and sat down at the computer with my beverage, I find that I'm able to continue.

*On a related note, some find it helpful to take a short but deliberate 'brain break'. This may involve a walk, a drive, taking a shower, reading, or working on an entirely different project of some sort. It's amazing what a brief change of scenery can do.

*And then, there are some who can regain their desired level of function through music. While I'm not one of those people who can write while there's music going in the background, I do have success with keeping and occasionally tapping a file of melodies that fit the mood of my work. Whenever possible, I assign theme songs to my characters; it actually helps me to play their song if I'm having trouble staying true to their personality. As I'm writing different scenes, I keep an ear out for music I'd find fitting for a soundtrack(In the wildly improbable event that my book were ever made into a movie).

At the risk of sounding delusional, here are three of my top soundtrack picks for the book I'm currently revising:

Bonjovi – It's My Life (This one was just kind of obvious, it being a Memoir and all. Not to mention the fact that it ends up being referred to by name in the third chapter.)

Seabird – Don't you know (I see this coming in as cruising music for any transitional driving scenes.)

Kids In The Way – Fiction (Perfect for a particular dream sequence. Yes, as a matter of fact there IS a freaky emo dream sequence. >.>)



All of that meandering to say... I'm curious to know who else out there uses music as an auditory remedy for mental flightiness. Above and beyond that, I'd like to know what song/songs you would choose for your work, were someone to turn it into a movie. Where would they fit, and why? Go ahead – I both invite and dare you. Dream a little dream. ^_^ (i.e. Make me feel a little less weird about this!)


P.S. For those of you who do better with a brain-break than with reorienting of the musical variety, I would like to direct you to the most recent literary recommendations of a brilliant writer and workshop instructor, C.J. Redwine – God bless the ground her stilettos trod upon.
http://www.cjredwine.blogspot.com/2011/02/best-reads-of-2010.html?spref=fb

The Old and The New

I finished the memoir on the 8th of January. I feel like I had another child; I keep having people ask me the stats. For my completed clean draft, it shook out to 33 chapters and approximately 162k words. Yes, that’s a big book. I’m somewhat heartened to consider it only took me a year to write enough words to fill two average fiction books. And yes, there’s a lot more work yet to be done. Right now I’m going to do my very best to keep it out of sight and out of mind until the beginning of February so I can bask in relief and regain some perspective. It needs to marinate in its own juices while I have myself a nice, cleansing mental fast from it. In the mean time, I figured I would report on 2010 and lay out my plans for 2011.

I’ll be completely honest. Up until last year, I’d never bothered with New Years resolutions of any kind. It wasn’t so much that I was lazy (I hope)…I just have a thing for statistics. And with something like an 8% success rate on those in the general populace actually accomplishing their resolutions (and with 30% broken in the first week of the year), I didn’t see much point in the investment. If I wanted to set myself up to fail, I’d just as soon tackle the achievement of world peace, or getting old people to drive somewhere close to the speed limit.

Almost precisely one year ago, I happened to find myself eavesdropping on a handful of women in Barns & Noble who were having a writer’s goal-setting meeting. The difference between a ‘resolution’ and a ‘goal’ suddenly clicked with me.
One of these lovely ladies (who have since become my RWA guild sisters) offered me a copy of her personal goals for the year and advised me to select 5 or 6 for myself that might apply. Being inherently gung-ho and gleefully clueless to the complexities of the writing industry, I more than doubled her recommendation and dove headlong into the mix. As this is a reflection on my last crazy-but-productive year, I’m going to publicly list the goals I had set and whether or not I met them:

*Enter at least 2 writing contests. - (Check! Still waiting on the hopefully less-brutal results of #2.)
*Write EVERY day (shooting for 600 words, unless it’s poetry) - (Check! …mostly.)
*Complete first draft of Memoir: Once Upon a Road Trip - (Check! …just 8 days late.)
* Start a blog and keep up with it regularly – (Er…um…)
*Maintain my monthly Livejournal – (Negative. Something had to give.)
*Read at least 10 books for fun – (Check!)
*Set a top 5 priority list and review it regularly – (Not even close.)
*Look into getting an agent once manuscript is complete – (Some research done. Decided to carry that into the middle of 2011.)
*Attend an online workshop. (Check! I actually managed two of them.)
*Read and study: Writing the Breakout Novel – (Half done. Postponed until I begin my fiction writing.)
*Read: Goal, Motivation, Conflict –Deb Dixon – (Nay.)
*Read: Heros and Heroines – Tami D. Cowden – (Nope.)
*Go through all Writer’s Digest magazines and highlight helpful material - (Check!)
*Create Business/Calling cards – (Check! Ordered 500, and have given out 5. >.<)

I think I did reasonably well, for having set myself up with minimal accountability. This year, you can ALL hold me to my goals if you so choose. Some are carry-over from last year -- some are new or based on my more recently expanded knowledge of the industry:

*Read at least 2 books on revision and self-editing.
*Macro revision of memoir; eliminate all known plot and flow issues.
*Micro revision of memoir; polish with a line-by-line review.
*Recruit reliable beta-readers and make adjustments based on consensus input.
*Begin agent querying in by the middle of the year.
*Attend 2 workshops.
*Enter 2 contests for feedback purposes.
*Finish reading: Writing the Breakout Novel.
*Read: Goal, Motivation, Conflict –Deb Dixon.
*Read: Heroes and Heroines – Tami D. Cowden.
*Read at least 15 books just for fun.
*Write at least 500 words a day, regardless of what it goes towards.
*Continue going through all Writer’s Digest magazines, highlighting helpful material.
*Study the Sci-fi genre and read 5 well-rated, recent examples.
*World-build and create an outline for my intended sci-fi series.
*Keep up with the blog at least once a month.

Though my list appears longer, I’ve actually lightened my load overall. I’ve come a long way in learning what is reasonable for me to accomplish. As I was teetering on the razor edge of sanity at certain points in the last year, I’m striving for more balance this time around. A writer cannot live on words alone. Personally, I appreciate the concept that humans are triune beings, comprised of body, spirit and soul(the soul itself being an amalgamation of mind, will and emotions.) While writing is a desire and passion of my soul, my narrow striving in that direction admittedly left me neglecting my spiritual life as well as the health of my body. I’ve grown so much as a writer in the last year, but it’s been a lopsided growth in the grand scheme of things. I’m well overdue to adjust my approach. Here are four simple things I’ve tacked on to my goals to hopefully help mitigate this, which I will keep track of via calendar:

*20-30 minute walks every-other day.
*Take at least 1 month of Krav Maga (For the exercise as well as the experience.)
*Join a bible study/fellowship group.
*Watch online messages at least once a week.

Resolutions tend to be vague and fanciful. But a goal is specific, realistic and obtainable. Resolutions are made in private or wistfully mentioned at the beginning of the year with no one being obligated to follow up or hold people to their declaration. Goals are measurable via the results you have to show for your efforts along the way, and more likely to be attained when the one making them is accountable to someone else. Got some goals in mind for the year? Write them down, and then collect a few trusted accomplices …er…comrades that care about you enough to hold you to them. (Yes, real friends do butt in from time to time.)

So, if you’ve had the patience to get this far, it’s time to weigh in. What are your balanced goals for this year? And what is your plan for working toward them?

Growing Pains: Confessions Of A Contest Newbie

It was among my writer’s goals for the year to enter a few contests, if for no reason other than to receive some constructive feedback from unbiased parties. I didn’t expect to win anything, or even be counted in honorable mention. After all, I haven’t entered any contests since college, and that was a classic ‘big fish in a small (barely literate) pond’ situation. So far, I’ve been glad that I kept my expectations to a minimum.

I recently received the results of a certain writing contest, which shall remain nameless. As I surveyed the judges comments, a quote from A Knight’s Tale leapt to mind in summary: “You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting.” Yes, it hurt. But now that I’m ready to clean up after my pity party, I thought it might help more than just me if I reviewed my experience.

If I convert my scores into a standard grading percentage, the grades I received were as follows: F, F, D, and C. (Hear that? That’s my honor student ego, crying.) Though I had been warned to expect it, I was vaguely annoyed to note a few contradicting elements to judge comments. Two thought I had perfect format with no structural issues, and two were bothered enough that I didn’t begin the chapter halfway down the page that they deducted points. (This wasn’t something specifically mentioned in the contest guidelines, but I’ll certainly err on the side of caution next time.) One of the judges had a huge pet peeve against any and all words that involved the suffix ‘ly’. On the bright side of that low score, it did draw my attention to how frequently I like to turn adjectives into adverbs. But are adverbs such a bad thing? (I’m not entirely clear on that yet.) Two of the judges wanted me to alter facts to increase tension, but I’m guessing they missed that I’d listed the piece as a Memoir. Granted, the only place I wouldn’t run into this misunderstanding is an actual Memoir contest…which I should probably look into. >.>

All four judges agreed on a few key points that I suspected from the get-go. I have no decent hook, my character goals are vague, and there’s too much backstory with not enough action. One of them was kind enough to suggest I read through the chapter, circle the first point where a conflict arises, and begin the chapter -there- instead. (For that comprehensible little tidbit, I will be forever grateful.) Another judge was kind enough to write an extra page of comments referencing the book The First Five Pages, listing chapters and page numbers where I could get help adjusting some of my more glaring problems. Talk about going above and beyond the call of duty!

To be honest though, at first I wasn’t sure I was going to make it past the more soul-crushing elements of their reviews. There were a few caustic word choices I got hung up on for a while: There was the repeated use to the term “dull and boring”, having my prose described as “awkward and convoluted”, and having my main character (i.e. me) described as “self-centered and forgettable”. >.< One judge even took offense to the story concept itself. I’m trying to be as gracious as possible, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard to keep from taking these sorts of things personally. I had to take a few days to sulk and wonder why I did this to myself in the first place. The answer, as it turns out, is remarkably simple. I can’t stop.

As it so happens, I was right in the middle of reading The First Five Pages when I got back the judges comments. I’ve since finished it, and found a great deal of solace at the end of its Epilogue. There, Noah Lukeman writes: “The ultimate message of this book, though, is not that you should strive for publication, but that you should become devoted to the craft of writing, for its own sake. Ask yourself what you would do if you knew that you would never be published. Would you still write? If you are truly writing for the art of it, the answer will be yes. And then, every word is a victory.”

For better or for worse, I’m devoted to the craft. And I’m declaring victory. :)

Anyone else care to share about their first major contest vivisection...er...I mean...experience? :D

The Writing Routine

Having hit a bit of a block lately, I was challenged by a dear friend to examine the way I go about writing. It’s become my understanding that nearly all artists benefit from a habitual sequence that aids them in their creative process. Though, many of us are only partially conscious of this. We know we need peace and quiet, so we aim for a time of day that’s most conducive to it. We migrate to our personal ‘workspace’, which is really more of a haven for inspiration that happens to be either decorated or buried under clutter. And then, once we’re good and comfortable, we attempt to get something accomplished.

It’s getting into the ‘groove’ that everyone seems to vary the most on. I have friends who absolutely –have- to exercise before they get down to business, or their creative efforts start out about as promising as herding a pack of squirrels. One particular friend of mine prefers to write out a chapter draft by hand first, before transferring it to the computer. Not only does she hand-write it, she does so using a particular olive-wood pen, which she otherwise keeps in the special box it came in. Let us pray she doesn’t lose that magical pen.

Considering this concept more fully, I decided to make note of my own little rituals throughout the last week or two, hoping for a clearer understanding of my own creative process. With only a small degree of variability, my cycle seems to be as follows:

1.) Make tea. (Green, red, jasmine, chai, chamomile… it doesn’t seem to matter, as long as it’s hot.)
2.) Sit down at computer and, while drinking said tea, proceed to check all three emails and facebook, just to eliminate the nagging sensation that there is something else I should be doing.
3.) Play one turn of internet Scrabble.
4.) Write several lines of a poem I have no intention of getting back to.
5.) Finally begin work on a chapter, continuing until I face-plant into the keyboard.
6.) Work on chapter every conscious moment until it is complete.(Average 1-3 days)
7.) Cuss, growl, mope, wallow in low-self-esteem, and otherwise agonize over how to begin the next chapter. (Average 1-5 days.)
8.) Clean, do laundry, shop, draw, and go back to revise several previous chapters, all while not-so-cleverly avoiding a start on the next chapter. (Average 1-3 days)
9.) One or all of the following: Yell, throw something, blame the cats, go for a long walk, or have a good cry.
10.) Wash, rinse, repeat.

There you have it. I apparently have my own little ten step program. Now that I look at it, I think I can probably streamline the whole process by trimming out the Scrabble and the crying. If I can get away with that, I’ll be sure to report my findings. >.>

So, what’s YOUR routine?

Inspirational Distractions

I’ve read several perspectives on the countless number of pointless distractions we often impose on ourselves as an avoidance tactic.(Hands down, the ironing of the underwear was my favorite.) And while I found those things valuable to recognize about ourselves, I wanted to take a few moments to shift gears and talk about productive diversions.

I think it stands to reason that very few (if any) of us can just sit down and complete something as daunting as a book without trouble. Now, the majority of people who are creatively inclined are also at the mercy of their Muse. Yes, the muse — that fickle, nebulous entity that skulks through your imagination, coming and going as it pleases like a haughty tomcat.(Okay, so my muse and I are not on the best terms at the moment.) We do what we can to coerce it into sticking around and making itself useful, but inevitably it seems to tire of us and disappear for hours, days, or weeks at a time. And so in our own ways we feel forced to take a brain break, grab a butterfly net, and go out looking for our wayward muse.

I’ve noticed that, for me, there are a number of AFK(Away From Keyboard) activities that recharge my mind or often result in the inspiration to push through a sticking point in my work. Among the mundane diversions are going out for a walk, indulging in a long bath(a rarity with small children roaming underfoot), sketching or painting, reading a book that is better written than any I’m likely to write, and driving to the grocery store for no apparent reason other than to roam the isles and hear the screaming of –other- people’s children.

The less mundane of my exercises seem to revolve around spontaneity and a change of scenery. For instance: Stopping by a private coffee shop and challenging the barista to ‘surprise me with something unique’… Randomly ducking into various tattoo parlors to examine the décor and quiz the staff on a particular design that I may or may not actually want…Loitering in Barns & Noble on off hours for the purpose of eliciting book reviews out of their more friendly looking workers…And of course, dressing up oddly or putting my children in Halloween costumes for no reason other than to go out in public and monitor people’s reactions.

All of these are inspirational diversions and, for whatever reason, they all seem to help me recapture my muse and haul it clawing and yowling back to my computer chair. But in reflecting on this it’s made me wonder, what activities do –you- engage in to recharge your creativity and will to press on towards the finish line?

On a more random but personally entertaining note: If you were to envision your muse as a real, tangible being, what would it look like? (The winner of this one could possibly earn a sketch of it.) For some reason, I always picture Weight Watcher’s ‘Hungry’ Puppet…only in more of an elusive-yet-sparkly black color. >.>

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Under most circumstances, banal platitudes are a pet peeve of mine. However, for the last few weeks I’ve been reexamining the deeper implications of one of the earliest sayings to be instilled in me: ‘You are what you eat.’ Of course when I was a kid, I presumed this statement was little more than a malicious assault directed towards my compulsory adoration of junk food. It took until adulthood before I thought to consider it in a more metaphorical light.

Most people recognize, on some level, that they will tend to regurgitate what they are immersed in. Children are well known to mimic adults and peers as they integrate the language and behaviors they experience into their own identities.(Which, of course, ties in with the equally old adage: ‘Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.’) This process of replication and assimilation doesn’t end with childhood, it simply becomes less parroted and more subtle. (At this point, I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m prancing off into sociological commentary. Bear with me. My thought process may take the slow lane and make a few detours, but it usually reaches its destination.)

As I’ve spent more time talking to others writers about growing their own personal style, another application of this concept occurred to me.(And I dare say it has crossover relevance to professions that involve any degree of creativity.) In terms of media consumption, we ‘are what we read.’ That’s not to say that every last word we ingest is significant to our future works… I’m only noting that we can hardly keep from incorporating aspects from what we spend the bulk of our literary time meditating on. I know I’m probably behind most of my peers with this revelation, but it’s had a significant impact on how I delegate my time. It used to be that I would devour just about any book or magazine that found its way into my hands.(Please note; I’m not knocking the practice of reading widely!) But in attempting to balance everything else that needs doing, I’m already seeing the benefit of screening for quality.

Let’s face it, written media is like any other form of entertainment. Some works are masterpieces to be cherished, while others are spat out in the wanton hopes of making a quick buck. Most of us have picked up a book that reminded us of a car wreck; horrible to experience but curiously difficult to tear your eyes away from. Perhaps we want to feel justified in denouncing it as a waste of time. Or, perhaps we’re hopeful to the bitter end that the author might somehow pull out of their blatant career nosedive. Regardless of our motives, we convince ourselves that our semi-precious time was the only casualty to seeing it through to the finish. I’ve come to the conclusion now that, in my case at least, my writing also suffers. Just as reading something fantastic can inspire and enrich my prose, reading something awful seems to have the opposite effect.

This brings me back around to yet another commonly overused maxim, and the aforementioned title: ‘Garbage in, garbage out’. As a pre-teen I recall receiving this warning in regards to the television and music I was spending my time on, and the resulting affect on my impressionable vocabulary. It always made me envision something on this order:


Though what comes out of my mouth tends to see far less revision than what comes out onto paper or word processor,(apologies to all those within earshot of me) I suspect that the sentiment still applies. And so, I’ve been challenged of late to ask myself what I’m taking in, and if it’s affect on my work could be deemed good, bad, or neutral. Hopefully I’ll learn to skip over the bad, and possibly spend less of my time on the merely neutral. (If I become any less long-winded over expressing a concept like this, we can all assume it’s paying off.)

I have my mascot, and now out of this train of thought I’ve produced my motto: “I will write well; or at least adequately!” …actually, I’m not sure if that counts as a motto, or if it’s more of an assertion. Hmm. Well, seeing as it would make a lousy battle cry, I’m going to claim it as a motto until otherwise corrected.



P.S.: I don’t plan on making vaguely morbid illustrations a habit with this blog, but I can’t promise you won’t see more of it. I’m a visual person. That’s my excuse, and I’m running with it. >.>