The Heart of a Writer

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader–not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.”
E.L. Doctorow

“I admire anybody who has the guts to write anything at all.”
E. B. White

“If you can’t annoy somebody, there is little point in writing.”
Kingsley Amis

“Forgiveness is giving up all hope of having had a better past.”
― Anne Lamott

“What is written without effort is in generally read without pleasure.”
Samuel Johnson

“When we read, we stat at the beginning and continue until we reach the end.  When we write, we start in the middle and fight our way out.”
Vickie Karp

“I write for the same reason I breathe — because if I didn’t, I would die.”
Isaac Asimov

“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Until Next Time…

No Chickens Allowed

I wrote my first short story at age 5, and years later when I attended college I was still writing. I wanted to write about those hush-hush topics, and journalism allowed me to do that. There were no chickens allowed. I also grabbed the opportunity to become editor of the college newspaper and I wrote an editorial column.

Since I had a good relationship with my journalism professor I could write about some touchy topics like racism and abortion. Now, mind you I live in Portland, Oregon today, but I grew up in the south. The Bible Belt of the south and dating outside your race would almost send you to hell. And, it irritated me how incredibly narrow-minded and judgmental people were. I liked to blow the top off those mindsets. I was 18 and taking the world by storm. I knew what I stood for.

I’m not 18 anymore. I’m married to an amazing man and have two great kids. My baby will graduate high school next June. And, I don’t have the world by storm anymore. At all…In fact, I’ve lost sight of many things. The world doesn’t look the same as it did when I was 18. I’ve grown up, gotten my butt kicked all over the place emotionally, physically and spiritually, but I’ve continued to get up.

I still have something to say just like I did when I wrote my own column in the college paper. I just write short stories now. Writing has always remained the constant in my life, and when the chips and everything else were down, it picked me up again.

And, guess what? I am chicken about putting myself out there and bleeding a little, but I know why I write and what it means to me. Do you?

Until Next Time…

Hold On To Your Shorts!

Due to not anticipating the time difference, I goofed. If you visited earlier and the post wasn’t up, my apologies! It’s available now.

I”m excited to announce that I have guest posted for Sandra Bellamy at QuirkyBooks. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Sandra through our blogs and emails. When she asked if I’d write a guest post, I grabbed the opportunity. I can’t say enough great things about her as a person and a fellow author!

Please hop on over to visit Sandra and read my post “Hold On To Your Shorts!”  at  quirkybooks.wordpress.com.

Thanks Sandra!

Until Next Time…

Back to Basics

“The minute you get away from fundamentals — whether it’s proper technique, work ethic, or mental preparation — the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.”  Michael Jordan

Henry David Thoreau once said: “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”

What more Can I say?

Until Next Time…

No Focus? No Problem

I experience times in my life, I can’t focus on anything. I suspect it occurs more during the summer when Portland reaches an amazing 80 degrees. When I’m at work I watch the clouds drift by from the sixth floor window, counting the minutes until I’m able to walk outside and enjoy the sun.

However, life just doesn’t seem to stop when I have days like that. I have writing to do, bills to pay, family to take care of. So what do I do when I can’t focus?

• Make a list
• Write small scenes
• Breathe!

At times my lack of focus is due to being overwhelmed. I imagine a cute puppy chasing it’s tail, and of course never catching it. That’s when I grab some paper, or write on my white board what I need to accomplish and prioritize each item. That way, I’m focusing on one thing at a time instead of everything all at once.

I’m a huge fan of “The Big Bang Theory“. In one episode Sheldon couldn’t solve an equation so he decided to work on something menial to allow his subconscious to find the solution. And, it worked. In a short time, he had what he needed. It’s the same with your writing, and anything else we are thinking too much about. When you reach those times, go for a walk, fold laundry, read, watch TV or anything else that allows you to focus on something other than what you need the answer too.

Writing a novel can overwhelm you. I had some wonderful advice from someone I respect very much in the writing industry. She suggested that I write small scenes as they come to mind. I’m an advocate of outlining, but I felt this would help me understand my story and thought process better. So keep it simple and write a scene.

When day-to-day things bombard us, I think it’s common that we forget to breathe. I’m not referring to those that we do without thinking, but big deep cleansing breathes. Your shoulders and neck will relax and your mind will calm.

While we are all going through life, searching for the right word, title, book cover, story or just lose focus all together, try the above and don’t forget that sometimes you just need to have fun!

Until Next Time…

Success Depends on This

Reblogged from Life Coach Dr. Sheri Kaye Hoff:

What you need to almost guarantee success is burning desire. Authors W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill assure us that without burning desire, you will not achieve a high level of success. Burning desire is a rare thing. Most people do not dare to cultivate a burning desire for anything because the second you allow a burning desire, there a fears that get churned up.

Read more… 267 more words

May each of you rekindle your burning desire! I can't say enough wonderful things about Sheri, so take a moment to read and visit her.

Inspiration For Writers

I wanted to share some uplifting words for you today:

“I’ve got a folder full of rejection slips that I keep. Know why? Because those same editors are now calling my agent hoping I’ll write a book or novella for them. Things change. A rejection slip today might mean a frantic call to your agent in six months.”

- MaryJanice Davidson

“Believe in yourself and in your own voice, because there will be
times in this business when you will be the only one who does. Take
heart from the knowledge that an author with a strong voice will
often have trouble at the start of his or her career because strong,
distinctive voices sometimes make editors nervous. But in the end,
only the strong survive.”

- Jayne Ann Krentz

“This is for writers yet to be published who think the uphill climb will never end. Keep believing. This is also for published writers grown jaded by the process. Remember how lucky you are.”

- Terry Brooks

“Dig until you hit rock. Then take out that jackhammer and go a little deeper.”

- Allison Brennan

“The heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight. But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

- Thomas S. Monson

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

- George Eliot

“Screw the fear.”

- Jo Leigh

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain.”

- Dolly Parton

“I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

- Christopher Reeve

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

- Les Brown

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

- André Gide

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

- Albert Einstein

“If you’ve FINISHED writing a novel you are amongst the elite!!! You ARE NOT A FAILURE IF YOU CANNOT LIVE OFF YOUR BOOKS. You only fail by NOT TRYING.”

- Nadia Cornier

“Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.”

- Christopher Reeve

“I dwell in possibility.”

- Emily Dickenson

“And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.”

- Erica Jong

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your dreams. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too, can become great.”

- Mark Twain

“It never enters my mind that I can’t do
something I set out to doing.”

- Anne Stuart

“When asked, ‘How do you write?’
I invariably answer, ‘one word at a time.’”

- Stephen King

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

- Agatha Christie

“I have learned to kick guilt in its ass and keep going.”

- Karin Tabke

“You don’t find time to write. You make time. It’s my job.”

- Nora Roberts

“If you don’t think there is magic in writing, you probably won’t write anything magical.”

- Terry Brooks

“As for me, I know of nothing else but miracles.”

- Walt Whitman

“It’s never too late–in fiction or in life–to revise.”

- Nancy Thayer

“Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Believe in love. Believe in magic. Hell, believe in Santa Claus. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams.
If you don’t, who will?”

- Jon Bon Jovi

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

- Calvin Coolidge

“There were days when I wondered if I was a glutton for punishment or simply delusional. However, my writing must have been improving because one day I found myself with three agents interested in my latest manuscript.”

- Lois Winston

“Never, EVER give up. Not ever. Not EVER. Ever EVER!”

- MaryJanice Davidson

“The only thing that I have done that is not mitigated by luck, diminished by good fortune, is that I persisted. And other
people gave up.”

- Harrison Ford

“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.”

- Marianne Williamson

Have a wonderful week!

Until Next Time…