Ask the Author: Vivian Probst
Answered Questions (6)
Vivian Probst
'Death by Roses' is a story that began six months after my older sister died of Lou Gehrig's disease in 2008, so I believe the inspiration was the loss of my sister. I could not believe that I ended up writing a romantic comedy and how much fun it portrays the afterlife to be! But most of all I believe the idea came from an internal need to learn to treat this life with much more respect and love each day. It can still be a wonderful life!
Vivian Probst
I have always wanted to write! I started to respect that desire in my late 40s by reading Julie Cameron's 'The Artist's Way' and doing her 30 minute Morning Pages. Stories began to show up after that time which leads me to believe that the inspiration comes when we learn to respect our desires. Even the smallest step opens the door. As I gave my time and attention to my deepest desire, without regard for future success, it all started coming together.
Vivian Probst
The second novel, currently titled 'Death by Violets'. Doing some research, listening quietly to the plot as I hear bits of it developing. Also thinking about the right time to release a 5-volume series a wrote a number of years ago.
Vivian Probst
Write in complete fascination without any judgment and DO NOT ask others to evaluate what you write until you have a finished piece--no matter how long it takes. I know that writing groups are popular but honestly, I don't belong to one because I have to let the story put itself together completely without other people expressing any opinion.
Try Julie Cameron's 'The Artist's Way' which has you write Morning Pages for 1/2 hour each a.m. That helped me get started.
Write! Keep you day job as long as you need to but be bold enough to respect yourself and your desire. I believe stories seek willing and open minds to come into being. Have fun and don't take anything too seriously. You DO NOT have to be depressed to write a good story.
Try Julie Cameron's 'The Artist's Way' which has you write Morning Pages for 1/2 hour each a.m. That helped me get started.
Write! Keep you day job as long as you need to but be bold enough to respect yourself and your desire. I believe stories seek willing and open minds to come into being. Have fun and don't take anything too seriously. You DO NOT have to be depressed to write a good story.
Vivian Probst
Writing fiction! I get to live out my imagination, watch the pieces of the story come together and enjoy the rapture when all the blanks start to fill in! It's so amazing. If others enjoy what I write, that's BLISS!
Vivian Probst
Ha! I laugh at it. If writer's block shows up it has a marvelous message: a) I'm resisting something about the story that I don't want to write, b) I'm evaluating how others will react to my story rather than simply writing it or, c) it's time to take a break.
I believe stories come to us to be written if we are willing to listen closely, in a state of outrageous curiosity and openness to allow the characters to speak. If the story isn't coming to me, I turn my attention to something else until it returns. It's really about trusting the story.
It's also marvelous fun to take a few days to simply live and be a part of events that are occurring. These can be great clues about plot and story content.The family and friends appreciate it too.
Have you ever felt like you're experiencing a situation or character that would make a great scene in a story? One of my favorite scenes in 'Death by Roses' actually happened and gave me the basis to write the scene.
I also take care to pay attention to my dream life and respect whatever is coming to me no matter what my personal opinion is about it.
Does that help?
I believe stories come to us to be written if we are willing to listen closely, in a state of outrageous curiosity and openness to allow the characters to speak. If the story isn't coming to me, I turn my attention to something else until it returns. It's really about trusting the story.
It's also marvelous fun to take a few days to simply live and be a part of events that are occurring. These can be great clues about plot and story content.The family and friends appreciate it too.
Have you ever felt like you're experiencing a situation or character that would make a great scene in a story? One of my favorite scenes in 'Death by Roses' actually happened and gave me the basis to write the scene.
I also take care to pay attention to my dream life and respect whatever is coming to me no matter what my personal opinion is about it.
Does that help?
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