Chad Hunter's Blog, page 2

Creativity quotes – “Make visible…”

5 Tools Everyone in the writer Industry Should Be Using

Writing is a craft and every craft has tools.  While some authors go purely for the electronic, others may lend themselves to the old school of paper and pen.  However, there are those who believe a blend of both worlds is best.  Here are Five tools everyone in the writer industry should be using.

Scrivener – Hands down, the best writing application in existence.  Created by Literature & Latte, the software allows writers to create fiction, non-fiction, chapter based novels, screenplays and more.  The software has a FREE 30-use trial that will surely win any writer over.

Dropbox – Storage is key especially when you are churning out DOCs, PDFs and other file types by the minute.  After the ability to keep what you’re creating, the capability to reach it anywhere anytime is equally as important.  Dropbox allows writers to store files online and mirrored to their desktop with an opening offer of more-than-sufficient storage.

Surface Pro – A hybrid of a computer and a tablet.  Microsoft’s answer to the iPad is a definite piece of technology one needs to have.  Blending the portability of a tablet with the customization and installation options of a laptop, the Surface Pro makes writing on the go the easiest of tasks.

Notepad – Not the Windows application but an actual collection of bound pages.  While electronics can lose power, short out or act up, a good old-fashioned notepad can rarely ever fail you.

Digital recorder – Our muses come at different times and not always when we expect them.  At times and often odd times, we are struck by ideas and topics for our craft.  If one is driving or devoid of something to write with, a digital recorder is a great way to capture that lightning in a bottle for later.

Top Five Worst Pieces of Advice on Writing

Writing is for some, more of life than the blood in their veins.  It is a calling.  It is a curse.  It is a song in the ears of those who put pen to paper and fingers to keyboard.  Yet with such a beautiful connection to a driving passion, many writers endure terrible counsel and suggestions on their beloved pursuit.  Avoid those recommendations.  Read on and identify the Top Five Worst Pieces of Advice on Writing.

Success can only be measured by dollars – Success is measured by whatever goal the writer deems fit.  It should not only be dollars if that is your choosing but the completion of the story you are seeking to write.  Never allow your passion to not be part of the equation and the scale.
Self-publishing is not a legitimate option to consider – Literally everyday a new self-published author enters the literary world and rocks it on its side.  Traditional publishing is still a great future but self-publishing is to be respected and revered as well.
To write, you must suffer – Uh no.  Many great writers lead and have led equally great lives.
Write what’s popular – Write the story that is begging to be written inside of you. Only if you are writing for a publication that gives you assignments and deadlines should you be corralled into writing what is currently popular.  Otherwise, write and determine your audience through the writing process.  If you only write what’s popular, the lack of passion will show through.
Give up – Every writer suffers set-backs.  But he or she is never to give up.  The only time a writer fails is when they stop trying.

Buy a book, help a teacher

On September 10th, Miles Books and myself will be selling Black Parakeets Only Hatch in December and donating partial proceeds to the teachers of East Chicago, Indiana.

Buy a book, help a teacher.

Tools of the Trade – God Bless the Goat – a testimony

There’s some type of some writing due somewhere –  Stringer assignment regarding health issues or updated information.  A post needed to keep the wheels of the blog spinning.  Another chapter in the book.

And there she is.  Hot.  Dark.  Wanting and giving at the same time.

Staggering from the bedroom, he wipes his eyes to see her.  “You’re up early,” he says, a might yawn looking anything but sensual.

“You wanted me, here I am.”

He is amazed at her resilience.  He shambled in while appears to have formed from water and fire.  “You were just with me last late night,” he says, “And here you are, bright and early?”

“Wouldn’t be much of a seduction if I wasn’t here when you wanted me.”

He smiles.  Her very presence fills the air and he feels his creativity sparking like a great machine coming to life.  Tesla coils of story titles hum and crackle in his mind.

He approaches and her presence grows stronger.  Her smell replaces the dull senses of his early rising.  The sight of her beaded in drops of water tingles him to his very core; she shines like ink swirling with promises.  And the taste of her is both bitter and sweet; it rattles his lips like shudders in night wind.

He closes his eyes and makes a noise of satisfaction.  She whispers in his ear.

“This is not only a seduction; it’s a testimony.”

“You’re right,” he agrees.  “God bless the goat.  I love you coffee.”

 

Creative Quotes – “The More that You Read…”

Tools of the Trade – En Vino Veritas: A Love Story

He often came to her at night. When he needed inspiration. When he needed to feel without the shackles of conscience or the diving-belt of fear holding him back. He needed to feel the burning of reckless abandon or the cold of ill decisions craved nonetheless. And when all this and more was the object of his longing, she was the object of his affection.

She was sometimes dark and sweet with a fullness to her taste that tapped his brain with every kiss. Other times, she could be clear as a ghost and dry like desert sand and unrequited love. Either way, she could come expensive or she could come cheap. He had to have her – she was his muse. As the moonlight poured down on his scribblings, she was his juggernaut of creativity; she was his recently-poured wine.

There has long been an association between writers and wine.  One would be hard-pressed to find a famous writer who, at some point in their history, had not thrown themselves into a red wine’s crimson embrace or a white wine’s ivory kisses.

There are those who speculate the love story exists between writers and wine because of the drink’s erudite perception.  Only the brilliant and enlightened drink wine. 

Some say it is the effect of wine and any alcohol in that it loosens the mind. The bottled spirit can remove inhibitions and fire the furnaces of creativity.  The horror story that the author would normally fear to put to paper now runs the house with chains and screams while the writer drinks and writes.  The breathy romance that the bashful scribe blushes at creating now heats up the bedroom with tales of fire to be told.

Some say it is the numbing capability of wine that writers find to be a siren’s call. Most creatives have been historically victims of highly sensitive perceptions, imaginations and mustang-wild creativity that can dog and hound them Not to mention that some creatives have struggled with the trappings of daily life and have found that any escape from life to be a welcome respite.

Whatever the reason, wine and writing have endured a long courtship that shows no sign of ending anytime soon.  What about you?  Is a glass of wine the muse you seek out when the road to writing is blocked?

She had been with others, he did not care.  For now, she was here with him.  And after he pressed himself down onto her, pushing and twisting into her binding top, there was a echoing pop.  And a sigh from both he and her.  Sweet and foretelling, her scent ran up to his nose.  And he smiled. 

“We have work to do,” she whispered.  And he began to write.

Ten Quick Tips on Writing

10. Know what you want to write

9. Know what you need to write

8. Find your writing space

7. Court your muse.

6. Make time no matter what.

5.  Outline before you start typing

4. Have a goal for your writing session

3.  Eat

2. Make reference material handy

1. Enjoy

Creative Quotes – “It was a total discovery…”

The Job of the Writer

It’s early and I’m waxing poetic on this one…

The job of the Writer is both an honored occupation and a lost one.  Centuries ago, one could compose sonnets or weave tales and their livelihoods could be supplied by kings and queens.  Centuries ago, the telling of tales could supply bards and orators with food for the night and a roof over one’s head.  Now, the job of the Writer is often met with quizzical looks and uncertain understandings.  Now, the job of the Writer is met with standards of fan base quantity and financial gain as opposed to level of the writing.

The job of the Writer is to be both master and slave to the writing.  Writers can call forth language from the ether and sculpt articles, stories and novels with nothing else but their thoughts – Be they a collection in Midwest Indiana meeting and critiquing.  Be they young journalists in Central Mexico writing officially on health and well-being.  Or be they wielders of the language from 11th century England or delivering stories to children with African pyramids as their backdrop – all these and more are Writers and they can summon words with but a thought and yet it is the writing that summons them.

Despite illness.  Despite condition.  Despite time.  The job of the Writer calls regardlessly and must be answered.

The job of the Writer is to show the soul of the people, the soul of humanity at the time in which the Writer is writing.  Regardless of content – be it fan-fiction of teenage love and vampire affection; be it the blogging of endless sites describing culinary adventures or aspects of shopping or be it novels and articles on momentous moments in history.  All of these writings are capturings of the human condition at the moment.  If musicians are the ears of humanity and artists and painters be the eyes then the Writer is the voice of mankind – speaking and telling of its time for generations to come.

The job of the Writer is a weighty one that is full of both blinding purpose and bewildering action.  The job of the Writer is a sacred one that is full of both sanctity and silliness.

And ultimately, the job of the Writer is to write.