inspiration

Friday Check-In and Kidlit Writing Contest

It’s been an up and down week with my writing. I’ve managed to slog through some pages, but haven’t felt ‘in the groove’ at all. Maybe when this thunderstormy heat wave passes and my propensity for migraines brought on by weird weather patterns is no longer challenged, I’ll get back in gear. Or maybe it’s just a slump, and as usual, things will get better if I just keep showing up. Probably the latter. Speaking of “just showing up” here’s a link to my oft-viewed TED Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert “Your elusive creative genius.” I highly recommend viewing this when the writing is at a standstill. I may be watching it today! Here’s  the TED Talk summary: Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

The following link to Kristi Holl’s Blog “Warning: Do You Know Where You Are?” takes a different slant on reaching your goals.

Here’s an excerpt:

“No matter what type of map you use (Google map, MapQuest, GPS or the old-fashioned paper kind), you first have to know where you are right now. Knowing your destination won’t help one iota if you don’t know your present location.

And why don’t we writers know where we are at this moment? Are we lost? Not really. More like deluded. We deceive ourselves about our true locations at the present time. (I do it too. We all do it.) And that’s one big reason why our “maps” don’t work and don’t get us to our destinations.”

I have soooo been there–and, no doubt, will be there again.

Finally, here is a link and some information about a kidlit writing contest, deadline July.

Current Contest at Children’s Writer: Kindergarten Story: Exploration!

http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/af627/

Specifications: Fiction about exploration for kindergarteners, up to 150 words. The story should be appropriate to children 5 to 7 learning to read on their own. The theme of exploration could be set at home, down the block, at school, on vacation, in books: Use your imagination! The story should be fun, colorful, use well-targeted words, and have special interest for the age group. Do not write too high for this readership. Know what a five- or seven-year-old can and cannot read. Originality and the overall quality of writing will also be considered. Publishability is the ultimate criterion.

Entries must be received by July 12, 2013. The first contest entry is free to Children’s Writer subscribers who include their account number on page one of their manuscript. All others pay an entry fee of $15, which includes an 8-month subscription. Winners will be announced in the October 2013 issue. Prizes: $500 for first place plus publication in Children’s Writer, $250 for second place, and $100 for third, fourth, and fifth places.

The contest rules are important. Please read them carefully.

Love to know what you think of the TED Talk or Kristi’s blog, or if you’re thinking of entering the contest. Have a great weekend!

9 Things I’ve Learned About Working to a Deadline

1.          Never make the deadline the deadline

If your project is due in five weeks, move your deadline up a week and give yourself only four weeks to complete the work. Too many things can go wrong (aside from your own procrastination) to interfere with getting the job done on time—computer problems, catching the flu, a major sports playoff that you just have to watch. With a week to spare you have time to do a great job on revisions and be sure that you hand in your best work. Also, handing work in ahead of time can give you a reputation for being well-organized and a good person to trust with a project.

2.         Set daily or weekly goals

Divide the large total of words into manageable chunks and the entire project just looks a whole lot more attainable. I like to give myself weekly, word-count goals and log my achievements on my calendar. If I exceed my goals, I definitely take a congratulatory trip to Starbucks, but I don’t use my success as an excuse to slack off on the next week’s quota—besides a café mocha is at stake!

3.         Organize your research notes

There’s nothing worse than sitting down to write, surrounded by piles of paper or a list of saved articles from the Internet, and feeling overwhelmed before you even begin. If you’ve got notes or articles printed from the Internet, staple the pages together and write in bright-coloured ink on the top page what the focus of the article is, or attach a sticky note. Highlight the quotes or information that you want when you read through the article for the first time, then you only have to read the article once. Put a sticky note on the highlighted pages with part of it sticking out like a bookmark. Put a short note on that part so you can see at a glance the material you need.

4.         Organize your “favourites” file

When you save web pages from the Internet, always put them in a special file just for this project. I usually change the name of the article I’m saving and give it a title that tells me right away why I saved it, for example: “Background on xxx” or “quote from Y about xxx.”

5.         Make sure to allow time for research

Even if you’re writing a children’s story, there’s bound to be some piece of information that needs looking up, i.e. When do kittens open their eyes? How tall is the average seven-year-old? And sometimes questions crop up as you write, or interesting tangents present themselves that need exploration to add to your project.

 6.         Forgive yourself

If you don’t make quota, don’t get frantic. Take a good look at your upcoming week and find the extra couple of hours you need to do the work. Then give yourself credit for being tough enough to get the job done.

7.         Reward yourself

Celebrate exceeding your goal. (Meeting it was your job, remember?) A small incentive can go a long way to keep the words adding up.

 8.         Find an encouraging writing partner

There’s nothing like knowing that someone is going to be regularly asking you, “How’s the project going?” to keep you working. I calculate my progress in percentages so that I know that the project is 60% completed or, better yet, that there’s only 40% left to do. Everyone likes a pat on the back for a job well done. I have a writing group that I meet with once a month and I look forward to reporting my progress on my work. That monthly meeting is a great incentive. I’m surrounded by talented professionals who inspire me to work professionally, too.

 9.         Turn off the e-mail

You’re a writer and your job is to write. People can wait to hear from you for a few hours and, yes, even days. Saying ‘no’ to the distractions honours both you and the work you are doing. For a few hours a day, writing is the most important job you have.

A Resolution for All Occasions

I decided to keep things simple this year. Just one resolution to cover all the things I want to do in 2010. Something simple that I can pull out of my pocket and apply to whatever situation I find myself in and that will help me make the right decision.

My resolution is to be better to me.

That doesn’t mean I get to eat as much chocolate as I want and hire someone to clean the toilets. Though at the moment, they seem like good ideas. I spend a lot of time and energy putting things that are good for me (like taking a walk, or reading a book for 20 minutes, or de-stressing with my MP3 player and a crossword) to the bottom of my to-do list. This year, I’m going to be more selfish and put myself first more often.

And I’m not talking about anything complex or hugely time-consuming or expensive. I’m talking about being first in some simple things that will help me become healthier, fitter, less stressed, more productive and creative and maybe even a more balanced person. That’s a tall order for such a small resolution. But I’m ready to take it on and see where it goes. I want to look back at every day and make sure that I can see something that was accomplished for me that will move me toward my goals.

There’s always time in the day to get the work done, and if there isn’t, I make it–deadlines are met, lessons are prepped, household chores are done. I need to be that dedicated to me. As has been said before: If not now, when? If not me, who?

Yes, this year I will be better to me.

A Short “Bliss” Moment

It was dark when I woke up this morning, so I rolled over all ready to go back to sleep. Six o’clock was just too early for a Saturday morning.

My book had other ideas.

A chapter walked in and said, “Get writing me, NOW, before you lose me.” So that’s what I did. Bleary-eyed I began clicking keys and by 7 AM, I was wide awake and feeling like the luckiest person in the world.

These are the “bliss” moments when everything comes together in one lovely, creative, exciting lump. Believe me, I know these moments are short lived. So I’ve learned to welcome them when they do arrive, unbidden and cold-handed on my warm back in the way-too-early morning.

Tomorrow will be an entirely different story; I’m enjoying now.

Deadlines and Passion

Yesterday I set a deadline for finishing my book. It’s one I have to stick to or two other goals that I have will not be accomplished. This deadline is unbreakable—and what a motivator it can be.

Is it the reason I woke up this morning thinking about “the book?” I don’t know, but this moment is important to me. There’s a point when I’m working on a writing project that it moves from being just an idea to being a passion. From now on this book will live in every spare moment I have to think about it. When I have any time to sit down, a pen will be in my hand so I can write a little more or plan a little more. This is the fun part and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.

I will start arriving early to meet friends for coffee so I can scribble some more words toward my goal. I will make and constantly revise calendars to make sure that among all my other commitments, there is time to write. My days will become longer so that I can wake up early and write and stay up later and get the other jobs in my life done. There will be less TV and more MP3. And I will sing in the car on the way to work a lot more because all of this makes me happy.

 For me, this is the best part of my writing process. What’s the best part for you?

Stretching my legs at NaNo Station 20,000+

It’s time for me to get off the NaNoWriMo train for a while and do some thinking. Until a bout of feeling physically crummy knocked me down for a few days, I was on board writing to quota and enjoying myself. A good thing. My story had holes in it big enough for a Twilight fan club meeting. Another good thing, since it was a first draft. I was writing every day. A great thing. And I was enjoying my characters and the trouble I was getting them into. Also a good thing.

But—

Yup there’s a ‘but.’

I have realized that I’m a purposeful sort of person. And though the writing has been fun, I want to write something with—if I may be so bold to say so—A PLAN! I have reached the point where I have decided that, if I’m going to set aside time to write every night, it should be something about which I have a clear vision. I’ve been writing for fun and it’s been fabulous for getting the creative wheels to turn and to get my commitment to writing every day back again. Now, I desperately want to take that energy and that revived excitement and put it to use—at least my version of use. And thank you NaNoWriMo for some much-needed writer CPR!

I have a project that has been lurking and begging me to get to work for a long time. It plays to two passions of mine–young people and the love of writing. And I’m going to go for it.

My NaNoWriMo daily word count is now ‘counting’ toward something purposeful. Nervous but eager,  I’m getting off one train and getting on another. New direction, new excitement, new challenges—but—that’s why I’m a writer.

Photo via Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/78469770@N00/

How to blindside the internal editor

I worked on my NaNoWriMo novel tonight after a brief hiatus. I didn’t go back over what I’d written before, or even try to start where I’d left off. I knew there was going be a scene later in the story in which my hero and heroine meet up with the hero’s former girlfriend. I really wanted to write that scene and have some fun with my heroine (my POV character)—and so that’s exactly what I did.

I’ve done this a few times in the course of my NaNo novelling. If a scene seems clear to me I write it. Then I go back and fill in the bits in between later. There’s no way my internal critic can get up to high doh about continuity of mood or voice or action or anything else, because I’ve taken her out of the equation with my “I’ll fix it later” mantra.

I’m sure my internal editor will declare serious payback when it comes to pulling the whole thing together into an actual readable story. But that’s fine with me. She can just sit and do her knitting until then. For now, I’m enjoying the ride.

Anyone else play around with your stories like this? I’d love to hear how it works for you.

Success is not measured by word count.

Yesterday, Laura LaRocca, fellow NaNoWriMo participant and writing buddy, wrote on Facebook, “Onano_09_blk_participant_100x100_1_pngn some days, success is not measured by word count.” That’s where I am at the end of the second week of NaNo. I have written over 19,000 words, but am many short of today’s NaNo word count goal. But the word count I have is so many more than I had two weeks ago, and 6,000 more than I wrote in July when I conscientiously wrote every day for a month. I have been successful in other ways, too. The pile of test papers that I have to mark is diminishing, I worked outside in glorious warm sunshine yesterday, my kitchen is clean, and I watched a mushy movie with my husband last evening while my son wrote up a NaNoWriMo storm and had a blast doing it.

This is a day to be proud of my accomplishments—and to also keep writing and recommit to the next 2 weeks. If I can write every day for a month, just think where I can be if I write every day for the rest of my life.

So, how do I keep the incentive going? Why did I write every day in July and then stop?

In July, I had a group of writerly friends who agreed to a challenge for the month. We each chose our own particular daily writing goal. When we had completed our goal for the day, we sent an email to the rest of the group with the word “done” in the subject line. NaNo makes you accountable to post your progress and lets you see what your writing buddies are doing every day; our “done” challenge worked in a similar way. It was important for us to get our “done” email send by the end of the day, some scrambling to send their emails just before midnight in order to make the deadline.

The idea of “done” came from an article that I read in a writers’ magazine in which an author said she belonged to a writing group who did this. I proposed it as a challenge to our group and everyone agreed it was a great success. And nearly everyone lost the daily writing habit when the month was over.

I’ve already talked to a couple of writer friends about keeping up the NaNo habit after November with our own “done” project and I believe we’ll make it work. We’re a lot of other things, too: moms, wives, knitters, cooks, teachers, TV and nature watchers. But when the writer piece of our personal puzzles is missing, the world just isn’t right. Success for us is sitting at the keyboard every day and fitting that writer piece of the puzzle into our lives. It will be good to be “done.”

Inspiration – Be ready for it!

INSPIRATION: Stimulus to do creative work; something that stimulates the human mind to creative thought or to the making of art. Encarta Dictionary

Things come along every day that inspire, that are great ideas for stories or novels or poems. But creativity needs more than inspiration. What do you need, as the definition says, to make the art? The first step you need to take is to be a working writer. And working writers do more than pound keyboards all day. When you’re out in the world are you open to new sights and sounds? Do you take a moment to look at the sunset or sunrise, or listen to the sounds of your neighborhood—radios, leaf blowers, dogs barking, airplanes, trucks, road construction, a motorcycle a few blocks away. Where else are you going to get the vivid details that will paint the picture that your inspiration suggests?

Do you listen to people? Not just to your own circle of friends and family, but to people on the bus or at work? What are their speech rhythms and patterns like? Do their voices go up at the end of sentences? Perhaps, they use a lot of technical jargon, or catch phrases like ‘you know’ or ‘it’s like’ or ‘so.’ Do they talk about their kids all the time or complain about the boss? All of these details make up the palette from which you create your word pictures—your stories and poems.

At a workshop I was a recently, I heard from a woman who had lots of story ideas. She shared some with us and they were wonderful. She was definitely inspired and had the tools to create wonderful pictures for her listeners. She was also a self-confessed procrastinator. What a shame. She wanted to be a writer so much but had never made her dream come true, because she kept putting it off.

Do you keep saying that you’ll write that story or novel ‘someday’? Make that someday now. Many NaNoWriMo writers have gone through the exercise of finding the time to write a novel in a month. Log your activities, hour by hour, for a week. Find out where you can take the time to get your writing done. Do you need to watch all those TV shows when they’re on? Can you record them and watch them some other time? Having a big chunk of time for writing is wonderful, but it can be very intimidating to fill with constructive work especially if you’re not used to it. Chipping away at a project a little at a time is a great solution and also helps you develop the habit of sitting at the keyboard, or somewhere with pencil and paper, and writing every day.

Make sure you keep reading, too. Immerse yourself in someone else’s writing. Read the words aloud to hear the rhythms and understand how the author keeps the action moving with sentence variety. Expand your vocabulary. Look up words the author uses that you don’t know. When you are writing your story and looking for just the right word, you’ll have it at your fingertips. Vary your reading so that you read in different genres and forms: mystery, sci-fi, literary, romance, poetry, adventure, short stories. When inspiration strikes, you can take your ideas and frame them in the form and style of writing that serves them best.

Lastly, write even when you’re not inspired. Athletes practice when it’s not race day and writers need to write even when there’s no deadline or no real inspiration. Writing “muscles” need to be kept in trim, too. Finding words and putting them together with depth of meaning and in a way that grabs a reader needs to be a daily habit not just an intermittent exercise that you take on when the mood strikes you. Keeping a daily journal is one way to strengthen those muscles and keep them flexed. Another is to play with words whenever you can. Take a page from the novel you are reading, point to three random words on a page, and see what you can make from them. Take a line from a song you like and use that to start a story or a poem. Describe what you see out of your window, or write from a different point of view, such as that of your baseball cap, or your backpack, or your running shoes, or your alarm clock.

Who knows? You may be inspired. And when you are, you’ll have all the tools you need to create your work of art. End

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